SWIFT AND SILENT

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 166, 19 August 1914, Page 5

SWIFT AND SILENT

BRITISH TROOPS FIRST MOVE LANDING OF EXPEDITIONARY FORCE IN FRANCE A TREMENDOUS RECEPTION FURTHER FIGHTING IN BELGIUM AND ALSACE • GERMAN CROWN PRINCE SAID TO BE WOUMSED On account of Brussels being threatened the seat of government in Belgium is being removed to Antwerp. - Elaborate preparations are being made by the Dutch Army on the frontier to repel the. invaders. The cables also contain details of the French advance in Alsace, and «f more fighting in Belgium. The movements of the Russian forces are also recorded. An important official announcement is made indicating the limitation oT the operations which, may be carried out in the Far East. JaAe cables announce the safe arrival of the British Expeditionary x TorxJ* in France,, att the arrangements having been carried out with remarkable precision. ' The force met with a most enthusiastic reception, Field Marsh*! Sir "J. D. French being pelted with flowers in the streets; .... Agate the report comes that the German Crown Prince has been wounded, and that the Kaiser is visiting him. The Algerian Army Corps is said* to have worked terrible havoc the Germans at Mulhausen.

By Telefrai*— JPrex* Association—Copyright

BRITISH LAND IN FRANCE. THE EXPEDITIONARY FORGE. ARRANGEMENTS We£l CARRIED . , OUT. (Received August 19, 8.40 a.mv) -LONDON, August 17., The Ftess Bureau, states that, the- Bxfeditionary Force has. safely landed in Prance. * The embarkation, transportation, and debarkation of the-men and stores, was OKEXifid. xosp with; the; greatest precision *ttd -without a single casualty. A GRIM; SOLEMN BUSINESS. , DETAILS OF EMBARKATION. LORD;KITCHENER'S ADVICE. (Received August 19, 8.45 a.m.) LONDON, August 18. King George telegraphed a. message to to** tcoopsj which was read to each regiment before embarkation.

served in the Soudan 1884-5, while*in connection with- the South African war he commanded the cavalry in General White's forces in, the battles of Reitfo»tein and Lbmbard's Kop; commanded in operations round Colesburg from November 1899 to January 1900; commanded cavalry in operations culminating in relief of Kimberley in February, 1900 f and commanded the cavalry division in Lord Roberts's forces throughout the ending in the capture of Bloemfontein and Pretoria. He was Inspectors-General of the Forces 1907-11, since when- he has been Chief of the Imperial General Staff. Major-General Murray. Major-General Sir Archibald James Murray, K.C.8., C.V.04 C.8., B.&O., is the Son of the. late..Chas. Murray, of Woodhouse,, -Hants,, and was born on Aprtt 21, 1860. He was educated at College and Sandhurst, and entered the Twenty-seventh Regiment in 1879. He served in Zululand 1888, South. Africa 1899,. 1900, and 1902, and was Director of the Military Training Headquarters, 1907-12. Lieut.-General Sir D. Haig. / Lieut.-General Sir Douglas Haig, K.C.8., K.C.1.E., K.C.V.0., C.V.0., is the json of John Haig, J.P., of Cameronjbridge, Fife, an<f was born on June 19, •1861. He joined the 7th Hussars, 1885; in? the Soudan, 1898; South Africa, 1899, and has been General Officer Goninaanding Aldershot since lgl2. Major-General Pulteney. Major-Generai William Pulteney, D.S.O,, is the son of the late Rev. 81. T.. Pulteney,. of Ashley, Market Harfcorough, and was born on May 18,1861. He was, educated at Eton and joined the Scots Guards: in 1881. He served in Egypt,. was, employed under the Foreign, Office- in Uganda, 1895-97;. served in South Africa 1899-1902;: commanded 16th Infantry Brigade 1908-9; and has been in command of the 6th Divisian since 1910. Lieut.-General Smrth-Dorxien. ■ LieutenantrGeneral' Sir Horace Loekwood Smith-Dorrien, «■ G.C.8,, K.C.8.. D.5.0., FSR.G.S., w4 born on May 26, 1858t Educated at. Harrow he entered tte Sherwood Foresters in 1876} served in the Zulu War, in Egypt and the Soudan, India and South Africa. He was Com;, mander-in-Chief at Aldershot 1907-12, and has had a southern command since 1912: KING AND AU REVOIR FORCE ARRIVES IN FRANCE. CONVOYED BY~~SUBMARINES. The only hints given to the public of the approaching departure of the troops were the visits of General French and other generals to Buckingham Palace and Marlborough House, the King's visit to Aldershot, and the Queen 's visit to Tidworth, where she personally took farewell of the officers and presented gifts to the men of the Queen's Own Kegiment. The skippers of the transports did not know their destination until they opened sealed orders when three miles out at sea. Some of the troopships were not even

Each man also carried a little slip of pager signed "Kitchener," with two. bimdased-words of soldierly advice on it, telling them to "Fear God, honour the BSng, and remember you are fighting: oa the soil of a friendly nation. Abstain from liquor and looting. Be courteous to women, but not more than sonrteous." The embarkation was a grim,'solemn business, and there were no farewells on the pier. lines of khaki : clad men marched to the docks in the early morning and the vesseM slipped quietly' away. THANKS TO THE; PRESS. LORD KITCHENER GRATEFUL, i (Received August 19, 8.55 &mv) I LONDON, August 18. The Press Bureau states that Lord Kitchener thanks the newspapers- for not publishing references to the movement ' of the troops to France, particularly as they were being freely discussed and described in the Continental newspapers. SECRECY AND SUCCESS. KITCHENER* 'S CHARACTERISTIC METHODS. THE OFFICERS IN COMMAND. (Received August 19, 9 a.m.) LONDON, August 18. The dispatch of the Expeditionary !Porce was carried out with remarkable secrecy and success, highly characteristic- of Lord Kitchener's methods. The troops were silently collected, and the drivers of the troop trains only received instructions as to their destinations as the trains started. Sir Douglas.Haig is in command of the First Army Corps, and Sir W. Pulteney is in command of the Third. Sir Archibald Murray is chief of General Sir J. D. French's staff. Lieutenant-General Sir Horace SmithDorrien succeeds the late. General Grierson in command of the Eastern Army .Corps. General French crossed on Friday night and had a great reception at Paris, where he conferred with Ministers. Field Marshal Sir J. D. French. Field-Marshal Sir John Denton Pinketone French, K.C.M.G., G.C.8., K.C.8., G.C.V.0., D.C.L., L.L.D., is the son of Capt. French, R.N., and was born at Bipple, Kent, on September 28, 1852. His military career commenced in 1874, ■witen he joined the Eighth Hussars. He

aware that they were being escorted until a submarine was suddenly seen passing, partially submerged. Sir John French and his staff stood on the quarterdeck of the Scout, and as she approached France her decks were cleared for action. „ The majority of the populace were unaware that the British General was expected, though the arrival of a transport at the same tinre aroused general enthusiasm. ' The Military Governor and the Mayor greeted General Sir J. IX French at the jetty. Throughout Friday and Saturday theBritishers marched through the streets to the camps on the French hills, and were quickly distributed at various points of which the town, is the victualling centre. The whole work was done without any excitement. Everybody seemed to be doing an everyday job. The precise contents of every ship's hold were known, and directly the troops left the cargo was carried out to sheds at pre-arranged places, where the exact space required had been allocated. It was manifest that the lessons learnt in South Africa had not been •forgotten.

«WE ARE GLAD TO BE HERE." j THE FORMAL RECEPTION. | GENERAL FBENCH GETS AN ! UPROARIOUS WELCOME. (Received August 19, 9.15 a.m.) j; LONDON August 18. ; After the landing, General French! said" to the Governor: — "We axe. very glad to be here, but have you left us any place to fiU?*' The Governor replied:— "You*win. make, your place quickly; enough." Since Monday a British admiral hasi been superintending, the landing of sup-j plies, and many military motors werei in the district, -which was plac-! arded with in English, *emind-; ring; the drivers of the ; French rule- of thej road, "Keep to the right. ,,; The town* I was cowered with flags, every house be,-; ing decorated. The. big broad-shoulder-i ed Britishers- made- a great impression;, on the people, though they were- in no; mood for noisy demonstrations, remembering their relatives who were already: \ fighting. :

The "Tommies" quickly fraternised with the few French soldiers in the district.

There- were similar scenes at other ports. The British Ambassador (Sir Francis Bertie), the Minister of the Interior, and other, officials, received General French; at the <Jare-du-N«rd. station at Paris on /Saturday. Naval reservists from Brittany, who were assisting the gendarmerie, formed a guard of honour.

The English colony assembled at the station and sang the National Anthem.

General French had an uproarious reception, amidst cries of "Vive PAngler terre." General French's motor car was pelted with flowers in the streets. Later on he visited President Poineare. BATTLE OF HAELEN; MORE COSTLY THAN SUPPOSED. GERMANS LOSE TWO THOUSAND DEAD. "Times" awrf "Sydney S-un" Strmats. "(Received August 19, 8 a.m.) LONDON, August 18. The engagement at Haelen %as more costly than has been supposed. The Germans lost two thousand dead,, and abandoned fifteen guns, while dead ; horses were strewed everywhere. The new dispositions of the allied armies in Belgium are complete. FRENCH ARRIVAL IN BELGIUM. A GRAPHIC DESCRIPTION. "SAVIOURS OF~~THE COUNTRY." (Received August 19, 8 a.m.) LONDON, August 18. A correspondent who was allowed to describe the arrival of the French troops in Brussels says:— "They swarmed along the highways, leading from France like ants, towards the point of concentration, and after a night's rest they melted away as the morning mist over the sombre Meuse into the dark fir woods and smiling valleys, singing snatches of the "Marseillaise." Hidden in the fields of waving corn were many cunningly-contrived trenches, in which the French alcd Belgians lay with their rifles cocked. Through these woods and up the steep knolls had been drawn the latest and most effective field artillery in the world. The French have been hailed as the saviours of Belgium. Everything is ready. Every French soldier is at his post, and the clash, whether offensive or defensive, may come any time." RUSSIANS IN GALICIA. APPEAL BY GRAND DUKE NICHOLAS. "THROW OFF THE FOREIGN YOKE.'' (Received August 19, 9.15 a.m.) ST. PETERSBURG, August 18. The Grand Duke Nicholas has appealed to the Russian inhabitants of Galicia to "let the country throw off the foreign yoke and to raise the banner of United Russia —an indivisible land.*'-

ROUND ABOUT MULHAUSEN. : THE DEADLY ALGERIANS. HAVOC IN GERMAN TRENCHES. (Received August 19, 9.40 a.m.) PARIS, August 18. Wounded soldiers from Mulhausen state that the Germans did not recognise the uniforms of the Algerian sharpshooters, who were allowed to approach close. They discovered their mistake too late. The Turcos threw themselves upon the Germans and wrought terrible havoc in the trenches with their bayonets. Those escaping the massacre fled, and this caused fearful disorder in the ranks behind."

RUSSIAN ROYALTY.

ELEVEN MEMBERS AT THE FRONT BELGIUM REFUSES GERMANY'S . DEMAND. ST. PETERSBURG, August 18. Eleven members of the Royal Family are at the front. (Received August 1%. 9.40 a.m.) PARIS, Augusts 18. 1 The- report is confirmed that King. Albert, rejected Germany's, fresh request, made through. Holland, for German troops to cross* Belgium-.

GERMAN CROWN PRINCE.

IS KB WOUNDED? KAISER SAID TO BE VISITING HIM.i (Received August 19, 9,20 a.m.) I PARIS,, August 18. A statement has-been circulated that the German Crown Prince has been wounde*) and is at Aix la Chapelle. Reports from The Hague assert that the Kaiser is visiting him there. ; IN TOGOLAND. ; GOLD COAST CONTINGENT. TRAINS AND~ PRISONERS ! CAPTURED; (Received August 19, 9.20 a.m.) ACCRA, August 18. I

A contingent from the. Gold Coast entered TogolancL took a numr ber of Gorman prisoners and. captured two trains. * BANK OF ENGLAND RUSH. UNABLE TO DEAL WITH BILLS. UNEMPLOYED AT MANCHESTER. (Received August 19, 10.15 a.m.) LONDON, August 18. A number of ante-moratorium bills were presented at the Bank of England this morning. The bank again reached the limit it was possible to deal with. The unemployed at Manchester have increased from four thousand to fourteen thousand. . The Board of Agriculture estimates that the h6p crop in Kent will be above the average. The "Daily News" states thatreigh* hundred of the defenders of Liege retired in the night in good order. Twelve hundred English, and Americans are still unable to- leave Italy and Switzerland. "• ' A TERRIBLE COSSACK. KILLS MANY GERMANS. Details in regard to the achievement of the Cossack, Kriutchkoff, cabled on Saturday show that, with four 4>ther Cossacks, he charged 22 German cavalry. He sabred the officer, and then his sword slipped from his hand. He seized a German's lance and killed ten more Germans. PLOT IN CANADrA, ATTEMPT ON WIRELESS- STATION. I THE CULPRITS ESCAPE: (Received August 19, 8.55 a.m.Ji OTTAWA, August. 18. Another attempt has been made to 'wreck the Government wireless station at Sault Sainte Marie. The guard pursued the attacking men,, but they escaped. THE NEED~OF FRANCE. WORE; NOT CHARITY. ~ PRIME MINISTER'S ANNOUNCE-' ' MENT. (Received August 19, 8.55 i a.m.) X "": M. Viviani, the Prime Minister, announces that the State is adding a bonus of 33 per cent, on all outwork grants by existing trade unions. The newspapers of all parties agree as to the great domestic danger of unemployment, and that what is wanted is work at trade, and not charity. It is recognised as essential that the postal and telegraphic service must bo kept on a normal footing. UNITED STATES' NEUTRALITY. NO NEED TO FEAR JAPAN. PRESIDENT WILSON'S ASSURANCE (Received August 19, 8.55 a.m.) WASHINGTON, August 18. President Wilson has informed Press representatives that there is no reason to question Japan's bona fides respecting the transfer of Kiao-Chau to China after the German withdrawal. The United States, according to the President, refused absolutely to be d into the controversy. j

FOREIGN SHIPPING. ATTITUDE OF AMERICA. CANADIAN GRAIN SHIPPERS DUBIOUS. (Received August 29, 8.55 a.m.) WASHINGTON, August 18. The Senate refused to open the American coastwise trade to foreign ships, but has extended the right of American registry to any foreignbuilt ship demanding it. The House" of Representatives has agreed to the measure. OTTAWA, August 18. The Canadian wheat crop is far below the estimate. It is probable that a moratorium will be declared throughout the Dominion. Grain shippers declare that the American plan to register foreign ships as American is useless, and more reliance is placed on the British guarantee of war risks. NEW YORK, August 18. Owing to the war the Cuban cigar factories here closed.

WEALTHY REFUGEES. AMERICANS ARRIVING HOME. CRUISERS STOP A VESSEL. ' (Received August 19, 8".5o a.m.) NEW YORE; August 18. The Laeonia has arrived l with a crowd _of passengers, chiefly' wealthy Americans,, returning from Europe. • Many of the wealthiest were accommodated in. the steerage. The White Star liner Marquetta has; arrived: at Boston, bringing hundreds of American- passengers- from Antwerp. The captain stated that, British) cruisers stopped him six times ou the' voyage by firing shots across' his. bows. PREPARATIONS FOR: ATTACK. SAFEGUARDING BRUSSELS. SEAT OF GOVERNMENT REMOVED J Rv. Cable.—iPreait Astaciation,- — Copyright, ■ BRUSSELS* August 18. The seat of Government, has been, .moved to Antwerp. ; ■ Impart&ttt measures ha\ve. to safeguard Brussels against surprisei vby German cavalry, including the eree-j -tiom of barricades, which-, are manned ; -by twenty thousand Civic Guards* ! A feature of the engagement at; rDina-nt was* the prolonged: artillery duel.: Probably not more- than 'eight men were engaged. All the* afternoon; heavy guns, field and mitrail-lj leuses maintained a tremendous and!: incessant din. ';] It is believed in Brussels, that notf only have the German plans been.' lessly overthrown, but aviators report I that as a consequence of the cheek a; large number of Germaning up one behind the-other as pre-; arranged, are now becoming hopelessly! congested as they pile up against the| crippled front. POSITION NOT WORSE. j| NO CAUSE FOR ANXIETY. I ANOTHER: GERMAN REPULSE. \ The Queen and the young Princes' and the representatives of France,; Russia, and Britain, are going to Ant-.-w-erp. Several of the Government de- i partments are being moved.there. The families of Ministers, however, will reinain at Brussels, in order to prove that there is;.no cause fo»* anxiety. ' The Germans attempted to dash through the defences at W&vre, but wereyrepulsed with heavy loss .by Belgian cavalry and twenty thousand Civil Guards. -. " ' TKe Government insist that the move to Antwerp- does not signify that the position is worse. TO REPEL INVADERS. BUTCH ARMY MAKES READY. TRADE STOPPAGE CAUSES DISTRESS. ROTTERDAM, August 18. The Dutch 7 Army is strongly holding the frontier. Numerous barbed wire entanglements and barricades have been erected on all the roads, and arrangements have been made for flooding the country. If combatants in irresistible numbers cross the frontier, many of the roads will be cut through and rendered impassable to troops and guns. Houses within the Forts' line of fire have been evacuated' and prepared for dynamiting. There is serious distress in Rotterdam owing to the stoppage of trade. Fifty thousand families are destitute, and relief funds have" been opened. WILL THEY FIGHt ? ITALY AND AUSTRIA. REMARKABLE UNITY IN RUSSIA. LONDON, August 17. Elaborate precautions taken in Italy lead to the belief that Italy is preparing to attack Austria or that she fears an Austrian attack. A noticeable feature of the position in St. Petersburg is the absence of the revolutionary element. The crowds thronging the streets are swayed entirely by patriotism, and the Tsar is more popular than he has ever been. Crowds outside newspaper offices cheer the latest news. CAMPAIGN OF FRANCE. VERY RAPID MOBILISATION. FURTHER SUCCESS IN ALSACE. PARIS, August 18. The French and Russian staffs have arranged that men from Alsace, Lorraine, and Poland serving in the German Army, -vvho are taken prisoners, shall receive special treatment. Mobilisation was so rapid in France that 1,250,000 field troops were at their posts by August 12, in addition to troops in the garrisons. It is reported that the Germans are dispatching the Guards and other picked troops, to the right flank. Despite his fifty-two years, M. Maeterlinck, the famous author, who is «, Belgian, has volunteered f >7 the Be.i-

gian Army, as "the enemy of mankind must be fought at all costs. ' ' At present M. Maeterlinck is assisting in harvest work in Normandy. ROME, August 18. A telegram from Basle states that the French have occupied Colmar, in Alsace,, 25 miles north of Mulhausen. Germans burned the town of Barzeweiler, in Alsace, and blew up the factories, alleging that the inhabitants had fired and killed eight soldiers. GERMANS ENTRENCHING. A DEFENSIVE ATTITUDE. CAUGHT BETWEEN TWO FORGES. BRUSSELS, August 18. The Germans are taking up a defensive attitude, and entrenching everywhere. After the Dinant fight the? French cavalry organised a big battle, and swept the front of the allied army bare of German Uhlans, making many prisoners. The Germans showed little fight, and often abandoned their horses and hid among the wheat stacks,, hoping to escape after the Allies' cavalry had passed. ■ . * Fighting is reported from Gembloux, where a German force was caught between a French cavalry column and a Belgian force marching from Namur. The German loss is. believed to have been heavy.

THE DESCENT FROM RUSSIA. TSAR'S MIGHTY HOSTS ADVANCE CAVALRY IN ToicH WITH ENEMY. ST. PETERSBURG, August 18. The general advance of the Russian Army began on Sunday, a? week earlier than had been supposed possible; The cavalry is now everywhere- in close: *touch with the enemy. , ; The Tsar will shortly issue a* proclamation giving Jews equal civil and poli-: tical rights with other Russians. -

JAPAN'S ULTIMATUM. CHINESE GOVERNMENT , PERXCTRBBD. IMPORTANT OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT-.,-:. LONDON, August IT". , The Press Bureau states that the* British and Japanese Governfixentss fcaive been, m communication;, and have deßidjeid:>l3iati each must take action, to* protect geneetaflu interests, especially the' independence and* integrity of China. Japsm'stactioiv d<jes> not extend beyend the, China Sea, or any territory exeept German on the continent in Eastern* Asia. WASHINGTON, August 18; i

It is stated berfe that Japan- itttendsj to capture all Germany's Pacifite josses -i sions, including Samoa, GermaSi New; Guinea, and the Bismarck Archipelago*! The statement is not confirmed. I PEKING. August 17* ; The Chinese Government is periui-bt 1 *! regarding Japan's, ultimatum. It suggests that Germany's only course is to cancel the lease oi KiaO'Cha,a and hand the territory o.ver to China. The following telegram has been received from the High Commissioner by the Prime Minister:— LONDON, AUGUST 18. I It is officially stated that Great Britain and Japan, are of opinion ; - that action is, necessary to protect interests in the Far East, as contemplated by the Alliance, especially with regard to the integrity of China. It is understood the action of Japan does: not extend in the Pacific beyond China-. except where necessary t» protect Japanese shipping in the Pacific, nor beyond Asiatic waters westward of China Seas, nor to foreign territory ex- • eept German occupation on the Continent in Eastern Asia. [ NO MORE MERCHANTMEN, ! GERMANY'S PLIGHT. A RECORD~oIF DISASTER PABIS, August 18. It is estimated that on August 1 Germany had .635 merchant steamers,: aggregating 3,000,000 tons, and valued, at £200,000,000. Of these 200 have already been captured and the remainder are practically out of action. CAPE TOWN, August 18. The German steamer Apolda was captured on arrival in Table Bay. The I crew were unaware that war had broken out. BELGRADE IN DARKNESS. ONE WEEK'S SHRAPNEL SHELLS. AUSTRIAN BOUT BEPORTEB. BOME, August 18. Three thousand shrapnel shells have fallen in Belgrade in a week. Everyone is living in cellars. - A shell wrecked the electric power station, and half the town is in darkness. Fifteen inhabitants have been killed. ATHENS, August 18. The Servian Legation has received a telegram from the Premier stating that the Austrians suffered a complete rout in the mountains near Sabatz, and are fleeing to recross the: Save and Drina. Fifteen thousand were killed and 14 guns captured. BARRED AT THE FRONT. CORRESPONDENTS TURNED DOWN SIR EDWARD GREY'S REQUEST. BRUSSELS, August 18. At Sir Edward Grey's request active English war correspondents at the front are being asked to keep away or return to England, as an indiscretion may injure; the interest's of the Allies*. The allied armies agreed not to allow any correspondents to go to the front at present. COPENHAGEN, August 18. The German General Staff refuses to allow war correspondents to go with the Army.

FINANCE IN FRANCE. ■-' PROPOSED AMERICAN! LOAN; ''THE -HUMANE COURSE." ' NEW YORK, August 17. J. P. Morgan and Co. were sounded by French bankers as to whether they would raise a loan in America for buying American , products. The firm refused to entertain the proposal if the Government objected. The Administration intimated that it could not interfere with the right of private individuals,, but the humane course would be to refrain from supplying Europe with tte means of continuing the war. DEMAND FROM BRAZE. AN OFFICIAL ATTACKED. '* OUTRAGE BY GERMAN SOLDIERS. "RIO JANEIRO, August 17. The Government of Brazil has in* sferucted the- Minister for Brazil to- ask for an explanation of the attack o»' Senor Bernardin Campos, formerly President of the State of Sajr Paulo, and his wife, whom German soldiers, after the outbreak of war, are alleged to have assaulted brutally, battering- them with the butts of their rifles and robbing- tbeii of jewellery, when they arrived at tlka Swiss frontier. Brazil demands the punishment of the ■soldiers.

IN THE COMMONWEALTH. / : THE EXPEDITIONARY FORCE. ) [ REMARKABLE SCENES OP I ." ENTHUSIASM. SYDNEY, August, 1& A contingent, of. the ExpeditionaryI Fo*ce marched through the city tonlay !en route to Cockatoo Island, and' prfc'sented a fine spectacle. There- were r»imarksSble scenes of enthusiasm, crowds •lining the streets and bands. . playing 'patriotic airs. Mr Coghlan (the New South. Wales, ' Agent-General) has cabled to Mr Holmaa stating that he interviewed- the Colonial - [Secretary, who, emphatically expressed' the conviction that there need be no afg , < prehension! that Great Britain: would koo command of the seas. , . ; Mr Agar-Wynne, has to Australia by the-Qmsrai, awing of thePosfatt Conference. ' The officers of the Omrah, which- has arrived at Fremantle, report that three-'-'" 'days ago- they heard- German wireless -messages, between, two vessels, -one- df which is thought possibly to have been the Roon. ' x MELBOURNE, August 1-81 1 The German steamer Wildenfels, frofll New York, was sighted off Cape Otway at 10 this mornings. She has' no wirele® - ■> x BILLS IN PARLIAMENT. A REASSURING POSITION. CONTRIBUTIONS TO WAR. FUNDUS, \ (Received 1 August $.9-, 9*15 ajfe.) ~, sy v STKDNET* Atigast-19t 1 The Rifle Association has -decided? iff indefinitely postpone its annual prize meeting, as the range is being utilised for other purposes. In the Assembly, Mr W. A. Holmaa introduced Bills providing for the regulation of the price* of foodstuffs- and the amalgamation of various patriotic and relief funds- as agreed upon, at the recent Premiers' Conference. .The Amalgamation Bill passed its third but the debate on the Price* of Foodstuffs Bill was adjourned. Mr Holman. stated that careful conr siderationof the industrial and- financial - outlook of the Commonwealth, as a - whole, disclosed a most reassuring position. Messrs Dalgety and Co. have offered. SQ, horses and the Pastoralists' Associa- ' tion fifteen thousand sheep and a- nunc* ber of remountst; also, substantial monetary assistance for the Expeditionary Force. The trustees of the Sydney Cricket Ground have' and —" the Master Builders, at a. few minutes, subscribed £2OQO to the Patriotic Fund. The Public Service has> decided to make regular contributions,, .and the' country, districts are vieing; with, the eities in supporting; the- movement. -The marching of the sections' of the Expeditionary Force was inspiring in character. One section promised themselves a "hot time in Berlin" some night. The election campaign is proceeding; quietly, public interest being too much absorbed in the war to devote much attention to politics.