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Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 259, 5 December 1914, Page 9

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ENEMY'S INFANTRY ATTACKS OFFENSIVE MOVEMENT FAILS AGAINST - THE RUSSIANS TURKS MASS IN SYRIA •-■.'!;■<■ ' ■ \ 7 #•.■ '•' . - : ■;■-..- . * ," GERMAN POLITICAL LEADERS DESIRE EARLY PEACE &OULD JAPAN BE ASKED TO SEND TROOPS TO EUROPE? ' "*- Germftn Infantry attacks on the Allied line have been defeated, and fct«iinlttent cannonading, without much'result, has been proceeding in. Belgium.; The enemy is said to have 2,000,000 men between Arras and the Tser River. ' • ". In the eastern theatre the Germans have attempted another offensive movement, but the Russians are said to have made further progress westward. '" Przemysl is said to he in a desperate plight, owing to hunger and disease, and the authorities have lost control of the population. At the bpenini of the Italian Parliament the Premier; amidst enthusiasm, declared that neutrality could not toe the exclusive aim of Italian policy, and that she must arm effectively. Some trouble has arisen in Ireland owing to the allegedly seditious attitude of some Nationalist journals. ■■ The elaborate preparations for the defence of Egypt have impressed the Arabs. Hostile camps have been broken up by the British forces, and sedition is being put down firmly; - t /Latest messages indicate that the leaders of the German political parties hold that the German armies are stronger than those of the AlUes, but agree that an early peace is desirable. By Cable.- — Press Association.—-Copyright.

INTERMITTENT CANNONADE. ■.■... . 1 GERMAN INFANTRY ATTACKS. 1 ■ ■ '...;■ v. '....' ] ; A . NO GROUND GAINED. - (Received December 5. 8.45 a.m.) PARIS, December 4. A communique states: "There has been ani m%rmittent cannonade between the Ypres-Roulers~ railway and the road from Becelaire ■ where, the German infantry unsuccessfully attempted to gain~ground. TREACHERX; AT FRI S germain 'stores (under o town mayor/- summarily/ shot. (Received December'' a.m.) LQNDPN» : December 4. An officer, writing to' the ter Guardian," narrates how the Germans at first spared the Ypres Town Hall, and that this "aroused suspicion. A search revealed an enormous "quantity of stores and ammunition which had been . placed beneath the Tow.n Hall with the mayor's connivance, when the Germans first occupied Ypres. Immediately the traitorious mayor was shot, the Germans shelled the Town Hall. JEWS HELPING BRITAIN. FIVE THOUSAND AT THE FRONT. . FRANCE'S NEW ARMY. "Times!' and "Sydney Sun" Services. (Received December 5, 8 a.m.) .. • - ' December 4. British Jewry has . contributed five thousand r men to the Army. The Rev. Alder is going to the front, and this wip.. be the first : time in history that a Jewish chaplain has accompanied British troops in the field. v : It Is* asSerted"that now the 1 safety of Paris is General Gallient: will shortly be in command of a new army, j EARLY PEACE DESIRABLE. GERMAN LEADERS AGREE. NAVAL INCREASE IMPERATIVE. "Times" and "Sydney Sun" Services. (Received December 5, 8 a.m.). : . LONDON, December 4. At a confidential meeting of the leaders of German political parties in Berlin, Ministers asserted that the German armies were much stronger than those of. the Allies. After the war they would be able to reduce military expenditure, but an immense increase in the navy is imperative. It was generally agreed that an early peace was desirable, even upon tlae terms of status quo ante bellum;. Count Dellatone, president of the Catholic Union, in a speech at Genoa, indicated that if the Holy See does not

actually insist on the territorial question, it intends to seek an international guarantee for the exercise of its powers, especially if Italy becomes involved in the war. HELP FOR THE BELGIANS. VICTORIA'S GENEROSITY. BULGARIA AND BONDHOLDERS. (Received December 5, 9.10 a.m.) LONDON, December 4. The Hon. R. Mcßride has handed overvto Count Lalaing, the Belgian Ambassador, a further sum of £4OOO. Count. ,Lalaing has expressed the Bel-' giari Government's profound gratitude for Victoria'is generosity, SOFIA, l December 4. Bulgaria has notified English holders of 1909 loan bonds that the payment of coupons has been postponed until the return of normal conditions in Europe. PORT OF LONDON. CONGESTION AT TILBURY. SHEDS CRAMMED WITH GOODS. (Received December % 9.10 a.m.) LONDON, December 4, The i'Star" says that the Tilbury docks are full, while steamers are lying ir the river waiting for berths. : This is due to the war and to the fact that number: of vessels which had been held up f O] various reasons, arrived together. Th< tJiiion Castle Company has removed it: boats from Southampton to Tilbury. An Atlantic transport vessel arrive! with nearly 14,000 tons of African fruit but it was almost impossible to hir bargee, and the sheds are crammed ful of goods. THE SOCIALISTS' VIEW. TO END THE WAR. JAPAN'S ASSISTANCE SHOULD B] SOUGHT. ' "Times" and "Sydney Sun" Services. (Received December .5, 8 a.m.) LONDON, December 4. The Socialist Party in- Berlin pre poses to exclude Dr Liebknecht fo voting against the new war grants i the Reichstag. Herr Gustav Herve,'writing to a Sc cialist organ in Paris,- urges that th assistance of Japan be invoked fo Europe, in order to shorten the war. . [Dr Liebknecht was the only dig sentient when the new vote was passes in the Reichstag.] > KAISER'S CARICATURES. POSTCARDS NOT TO BE SENT. ! CAUSE ILL-TREATMENT OF PRISONERS. r (Received December 5, 1.40 pan.) LONDON, December 4. The British and French authorities hav ' decided not to forward picture postcard

to the army, ridiculing the Kaiser or the Crown Prince. If such caricatures are found upon prisoners or wounded they are liable to summary treatment. Sometimes prisoners have been maltreated .and shot. DEFENCE OF EGYPT. .ARABS DEEPLY IMPRESSED. AUTHORITIES' FIRM MEASURES. ' "Times" and "Sydney Sun" Services. (Received December 5, 8 a.m.) LONDON, December 4. Egyptian reports state that the Arabs are deeply impressed by the magnitude of the preparations to repel a Turkish invasion. Egyptian officials have behaved excellently, and have prevented Turkish agents from obtaining a foothold among the Arabs, while certain Bedouins, who displayed a tendency to talk sedition, have been gently but firmly encouraged to betake themselves elsewhere. ON THE SINAI PENINSULA. TURKS CONSTRUCTING A RAILROAD. HOSTILE CAMPS BROKEN UP. t ■•■ ■■ ' (Received December 5, 8.45 a.m.) COPENHAGEN, December 4. A message from Berlin says that the Turks, under German direction, are constructing a military railroad from Maan to the Suez Canal.' CAIRO, December 4. ~ British aeroplanes are constantly jjat? rolling the Sinai Peninsula, but see no sign of the enemy. ThVhostile' eamps at. Gatia and Bir- ; el-nuss have been broken up and th.e enemy has retreated to the east. Probably the Bedouins, who attacked a cavalry patrol, received an unforgetta-ble lesson. The desert has been inundated for many square miles east of Port Sajd, which has thus been rendered immune from attack. Twenty of the Bikanir Camel Corps coastguard- patrol, who have been missing since the engagements on November 24, have been compelled to surrender, and they are now imprisoned near Jaffa. [Maan is nearly 200 miles to the east of the Suez Canal.]

AUSTRALIA'S NAVY. THE CRUISER BRISBANE. CONSTRUCTION AND DELAY CRITICISED. (Received December's, 11' a.m.) MELBOURNE, December 5. In the.House Mr Joseph Cook, criticising the tlelay in the completion and launching of the cruiser Brisbane, stated that if it had been ordered in England at the same time as' the others, Australia would have saved £IOO,OOO, and the boat

TURKS MASS IN SYRIA. ALL QUIET IN EGYPT. GERMAN LIBS IK CONSTANTINOPLE: (Received December 5, 12.30 p.m.)' LONDON, December 4. The "Daily Chronicle's" Cairo correspondent says that an Englishman who escaped from Constantinople states that the war news published there asserts that the English and their Allies have been thoroughly beaten on land and sea, but there is a strong antiGerman party, and there will be great revulsion of feeling when the impudent make-belief is discovered. There is bound to be bloodshed.. The Germans have made enormous requisitions for. the Army, particularly in Thrace, where the inhabitants are starving. The stores of coal have already been reduced to 10,000 tons. The quality of the coal has greatly reduced the Goeben's speed.

Everything is. quiet and orderly" in Egypt. Eeports continue of the Turks massing in Syria. . . ._ THE EMDEN'S AIM. SYDNEY'S GOOD SERVICE. AUSTRALASIAN TRANSPORTS IN DANGER. (Received December 5, 9.10 a.m.) MELBOURNE, December 5. ' In the Senate, the Hon. G. P. Pearec stated that when H.M.A.S.; Sydney encountered the Emden the transports were within 100 miles, and the Emden's commander undoubtedly intended + o gee amongst them. The Sydney was acting as convoy to the transports. '

would have been in commission in two years, It appeared that the boat" had been built on the side of a.hill without provision for floating it, and it now required a. costly dam to. get it out. CRISIS IN PORTUGAL. GOVERNMENT CHANGE .INEVITABLE. ANTI-GERMAN FEELING IN SPAIN. "Times" and "Sydney -SW' Services. (Received December 5, 8 a.m.) LONDON, December 4. A Cabinet crisis has occurred at Lisbon. A change of Government is inevitable, but no alteration in the. foreign policy is likely. . . The Spanish Press resents being misled in the early stages of the war by German stories, and by the papers not printing German news. Public feeling is strongly in favour .of the Allies.

"CERTAIN NAVAL MISHAP." A RETICENT GOVERNMENT. < * MORNING POST'' COMPLAINS. LONDON, December 3. The "Morning Post," in a leading article on what it describes as "a certain British naval mishap a month old," declares that it is discussed in the American Press and also in German}', where the newspapers are gloating over tb.e mishap and its concealment in Britain. The "Morning Post-" declares that the position is "ridiculous and humiliatL..g, and an insult to the nation. COPENHAGEN, December 4, In order to circumvent the German seizure of-Swedish timber tim-

ber will be exported to England via Norway. (The "certain British naval mishap" referred to probably concerns the battleship Audacious, for about a fortnight ago a cable message was denying the story that she had Been sunk. The message containing the statement regarding the mishap was probably censored, for it was never received. The story as told in the American papers, however, was that passengers on the Carmania informed the New York Press that they had seen the Audacious in a sinking condition, and that the crew had been rescued, but a denial of this statement was made by the surgeon of the vessel. The Audacious, which was launched in 1012, is a battleship of

"NOT OUR EXCLUSIVE AIM." ITALY AND NEUTRALITY. PRIME MINISTER'S DECLARATION ROME, December 4. Signor Salandra at the opening of Parliament declared amid indescribable enthusiasm that neutrality could; not be the exclusive aim of Italian policy. The political configuration of Europe was perhaps about to be transformed, and Italy must maintain her vital interests and just aspirations. The Government's supreme concern was complete preparation of the army and the navy. The lessons of history, still more of what was happening to-day, taught that if the rule of right ceased, force remained as the only guarantee of - a people's safety. Italy had no aggressive aims, but must arm as effectively as possible. The hour demanded a strong,'firm''Government. If Parliament strengthened its hands, Cabinet would devotedly, pursue the defence of the country's present interests with vigilant concern for her future destinies. The Radical and Democratic groups resolved to support the Premier. GERMANY'S TWO MILLIONS. TROOfS TROM ARRAS TO THE YSER. SERIES OF FRUITLESS ATTACKS. *' PARIS, December 4., An official statement says;:—''We occupied Lesmonil and-Dexon, signal •stations on the right bank of the Moselle, also the Faux Summit southward of the Col du Bonhomme, in the Vosges, which the enemy, used, as an observation post. We occupied Burnhaupt station, and the Aspaeh-Burnhaupt line, in Southern Alsace." . J ■: The Germans, in attacking Juissy, between Soissoiis and Vailly,' on the 26th, hoped to destroy the railway, on the other bank of the Aisne with guns, and then cross. British machine-guns and French bayonets routed them and inflicted 2000 casualties. . , LONDON, December 4. The ''Daily Chronicle's'' Calais correspondent says it is estimated that .the Germans have two million men from the Yser to Arras, including half a million at Ypres,. with new guns of long range. . . ... During .'a skirmish at Bixehoc-te'.ten thousand Germans attacked th 6 French, and only three thousand reached the trenches. The French counter-attack-ed, and practically wiped put' the rest. The "Daily News" Dunkirk. correspondent says fierce fighting is proceeding on a considerable portion of> the northern battle-line. The Germans), anticipating a forward movement by the Allies, spiritedly attacked, principally north of Ypres, and, towards Dixniude. The were repulsed. ' # Large forces of Germans before; dawn on Wednesday, under .cover of artillery, attempted to cross the Yser on rafts, each'carrying fifty men, accompanied by mitrailleuses in motor boats. The Allies' artillery capsized many of the rafts, and many Germans were drowSied or killed. The Germans persisted until mid-day, and then abandoned the attempt. Owing to the impracticability of moving heavy guns on soft ground, the Germans have largely increased the number of guns mounted on motor lorries.

24,000 tons displacement, and has a complement of 900 officers. and men. She ■carries ten 13.5 m guns, ..besides,the. usual armament of smaller guns.] DURATION OF THE WAR. ' ' PROBABLY THREE YEARS. " EXPORTED INTERVIEW WITH j KITCHENER. NEW YORK, December 4. Mr Irwin Cobb states that he recently interviewed Lord Kitchener. Lord Kitchener said he considered it would probably require three years to defeat the Germans. ~" We are prepared and determined to -continue until the victory has been won. The Avar will only ; end when Germany has been defeated on land and sea. The German campaign in the west is already a failure, which 4 \vill be more pronounced as time passes. When an invading army ceases to invade it merely wastes it strength, especially when,-.like #te Germans, it

has passed from the maximum of its strength and efficiency." Lord Kitchener added: "A soldier who judges the behaviour of the civil population and inflicts punishment, ceases to be a.soldier, and becomes an executioner." INACCURATE STATEMENTS. LORD KITCHENER'S DENIAL. (Received December 5, 9.10 a.m.) LONDON, December 4. Lord Kitchener denies the accuracy of 7 the language attributed to: him in Mr Irwin Cobb's interview.

GLORIOUS BRITISH TRADITIONS. WELL UPHELD IN FLANDERS. AGAINST TREMENDOUS ODDS. LONDON, December 4. The Press Bureau states that the eye-witness with British headquarters, reviewing the past month's operations of the British in Flanders,, declares that it forms" one of the most glorious chapters in ■ our history; The dogged pluck of the troops and individual acts of gallantry and devotion, repeatedly saved critical situations. ■Our victory' was solely due to their resource, initiative, and endurance. They have contributed materially to the appointed task of holding the enemy in the West while the-Russians-attack: is developing in the "East. They have' continued to attack with courage little abated by failure, and the prospect of ultimate defeat has never dawned on them, and will not until the-. Allies have made a further great effort: and sacrifices. The war will be one, of exhaustion, and final success depends on manner in'which the belligerents prepare to utilise the raw material of their manhood to replace the regular armies, when the latter have done their work. The British have defended this, line against tremendous odds at great sacrifice, and now, after a slight respite, are as fit and willing as ever. Though the situation has been relieved, there is no reason for assuming that the enemy has abandoned his intention oi forcing a way to the sea. The same task lies before the British Army of maintaining its share in the struggle until the nation in arms conies in support. The Germans are no unworthy foes. GARRISONS IN BELGIUM. MINIMUM NUMBER OF MEN. ANOTHER ADVANCE ON YPRES. LONDON, "December 4. The "Daily Chronicle's" Dunkirk correspondent says that the Belgian towns in German occupation are garrisoned by the minimum number of troops. There is a constant movement

of forces to and from Bruges and Ghent, but the garrisons consist of a few hundred men. Ostend is practically deserted, and Antwerp is a city of the dead. Earthworks have been thrown up there and elsewhere in expectation of retreat. The Germans are furiously bombarding Pervyse (between Dixmude and Nieuport) and the Allies are pressing forward there. The Germans are again advancing in large masses in the Ypres district. Their losses during the last few hours have been very heavy. AMSTERDAM, December 4.

A German, soldier from the Yser nar- • rates that out of 1200 comrades only 190 returned from the firing line. He adds that the Crown Prince will shortly attempt to force the Yser line. If he fails, the army will go into winter quarters. The Germans are cutting down trees for the purpose of constructing bridges and passage's.across the inundated districts near Ypres. •-••

THE SAPPERS. "BIG MEN OF THE WAR." .> TOO BUSY TO SWEAR. i LONDON, December 4. The correspondent of * ' The Times'' in the north of France says that sappers have become the big men of the war. The whole 350 miles of front from the Yser to the Argonne is one fortress. The sapper is too busy even to swear unless left at the base to control trains." He carries a rifle but seldom uses-it, preferring bombs and hand grenades. He sleeps in the day-time '' and works all night. His is a stealthy, "creepy" job, repairing entanglements and blowing up buildings. Mining is little used, because one strikes water at a-depth of a few feet. . Another correspondent says that owing to the closeness of the trenches in the Argonne, eacli side refrains i'rom firing. The sentinels stand in full view of each other. Each- could kill, but recognises the rules of the game and confines himself to watching. When news discomfiting to the Germans reaches the French they shout it with, the singing " of . the '' Marseillaise.' * Where, the trenches are too far apart dogs are employed as messengers.

KING GEORGE IN THE TRENCHES. NOTABLE PARTY AT THE EBONT. * TROOPS.' ENTHUSIASTIC .1. ■•'".- RECEPTION. , .' PARIS, December 4. The: King *s visit to the army is proving most interesting, anil' will possibly be prolonged for some clays^

King George, ' President Poincare,. King Albert,* Lord Kitchener, and Sir John French foregathered near Ypres and proceeded to the British lines. The King addressed the troops, congratulating and encouraging them.

\The Prince of Wales was also present at the meeting:,': which was of- the simplest and' 'indsfc intimate nature." General" •loffje travelled specially from the eastern frontier •to the rendezvous,- which was a place nearest to the lines of the three armies;; • ! ' ( \'King George "inspected the British; troops at : Bailleul and Armentieres* •visited the trenches and bomb-proof'" shelters, and conversed with ~ officers; "during a> desultory German cannonade. expressed.admiration-for the* troops* "■ fighting qualities. He had an enthusiastic reception from the troops. • f ■'. av LONDON, De&embor ±1 •The milHary Times," describing the way, in which, .the Prince of Wales is carrying out hi* duties, mentions that keenness, mod-

esty, and energy are conspicuous among; his qualities. The Prince has been un-' der. fire,'. and has visited the trenches,, including those of the Indians.-A more- - zealous .'and indefatigable- officer does not serve with: the King's troops.

RIOTS IN CAMP.

INTERNED BELGIANS GIVE TROUBLE. INDISCREET FRENCHMEN IN , / ,^ ! ENGLAND. •■■■• "AMSTERDAM, December 3. Discontent due to enforced idleness -

culminated in a riot pi Belgian soldiers interned at Heist, near Utrecht. Many of the interned men, who were Social-Democrats, refused to assist in - building winter huts on the ground that by so doing they would take the bread . out of the mouths of the Dutch worker. Windows and furniture were bi-oken, £ and several attempted to escape - i The Dutch guards fired, killing seven v; and wounding twenty-two. „ ..-.■' 1 There were twelve thousand V Belgians at Zeist; ; The unrest Was % " largely due to the "refusal to. admit 'ref ~ latives and other visitors except dur--J ing prescribed hours. When some were .- turned away a number of excited Bel- „ gians assaulted the guards, who gave six warnings before firing a volley in "* the air. Then a volley was fired in earnest. The majority of the wounded were severely wounded, and ... some . critically. ■'' .■ • - ■■ ■■< f LONDON"; December 3.' -' A Frenchman confined in the Lancaster concentration camp, on proving ~ his nationality received his discharge, , and was about leave to join the \ French army. An indiscreet deelara-. \ tion of intentions roused his fellow-. < prisoners to fury,- and he was wounded ' in the head. y A thousand highly ex- ' cited men, .armed with bricks and atones, rushed towards the outer gate. - Soldiers wilh fixed bayonets, charging -, at the double, drove the rioters to the " barrack rooms. A few were wounded*. : Several of the f ringleaders were placed in solitary confinement. " ■ : THE EASTERN CAMPAIGN. GERMANS ATTACK AGAIN. : RUSSIANS STILL COME ONi TETBOGEAD, December '4. & A communique says:—"Fighting con?'tinues in the Lowecz . district. Large forces have been transported, k~ principally from the western front, and K Germany has begun an offensive niovej! ment against Lutomersk and Sezerer|l. cow. I'' " We have taken Bartf eld, in Hun ; l''* gary, capturing eight officers, twelve ; hundred men, and six machine-guns. ,J (Received December 5, 8 a.m.) ;. - LONDON, December 4. ' T ''-The' Berlin ]?ress admits that the Ger- [< mans suffered .enormous losses in escaping \'~ from Lodz. » > >* [Bartfeld is in northern. Hungary*. s7 ft few miles from the border ofGalieiav]*

jr . IN DESPERATE PLIGHT. jjlr SIEGE OF YRZEMtSL. " it"' " ■ .. -- |;> A REIGN OF TERROR; p. ROME, December 3. } The Archbishop of Przemysl describes the position of the city as There is- enormous mortality among the *•" garrison, and stores and provisions are % .exhausted. The soldiers and the pOpu-'• ** J lace are suffering .'from hunger. The authorities have lost control and plun-j j;. Bering is rife. •■ LONDON, Deceniber 3; A'correspondent of the Paris. "Jour- '-' nal" describes the fighting in Poland . as a cyclone of men and horses in '' of fire. It is the most agitated battle. ■ since the Napoleonic'.wars. The mov'e-'i 4 ■ ments are so rapid that the generic have constantly to change their posi: * "tions. ' ' ■ '• '"' : '/ Anti-Austrian feeling is rapidly in--11.11.I 1 . -creasing among the Czech. population 5T the Russians ,' ; wHI probably provoke a revolution. J AUSTRO-GERMAN OUTRAGES. MUBDERS IN COLD BLOOD. TERRIBLE REPRISALS THREAT- ' , ENED..' PETRo"gRAD, December 3. Reuter's Petrograd - correspondent says the Tsar is' touring the military hospitals in central and southern' Bus 6ia.

Many cases of the German and Austrian treatment of wounded on the battlefield are prima facie so atrocious that a committee presided over by the Grand Duchess Militza has sent representatives to the front to investigate the'matter. V

.-Refugees, from-Lodz testify that the Germans are systematically using am-* munition waggons marked with the Eed Cross. Terrible reprisals are threatened if the Germans continue murdering peaceful citizens in cold blood, as they-are reported to have done. ; Dependents of Eussians living in Galicla before the war are in a piteous plight. The- : Aiis'trians- arrested ten thousand Eussians on the outbreak of the war, and a thousand of* these were executed. While the Eussians were advancing through Galieia they rescued two thousand. The remainder had been sent to the interior of Austria-Hungary, and'their fate is unknown. <

THE ELUSIVE KAISER. LOCATED IN THE EAST. DAEING COSSACK EAID. AMSTERDAM, December 4.An official Berlin statement says that the Kaiser inspected Aiistro-German troops at Czenstochowa, in Southwestern Poland. PETBOGBAD, December 4. Seventy Cossacks, dividing, into ten sectionsj dashed into Czenstochowa by night; killed a number .of..Germans, and drove off t : o the Eusjsian lines 1 three hundred others, including'forty women dressed as soldiers.. . ; "limes" 'and "Sydney. Sun" Services, (Received December 5," 8 aim.) v LONDON, December 4V. ' A Berlin wireless message states that the Kaiser' had an interview at Breslau with .the Archduke Frederick, 1 the Commandei;-in-Chief of the Au'strians. They also visited the wounded in the hospitals.

TROUBLE IN IRELAND. SEDITIOUS NEWSPAPERS ' WARNED.. MILITARY AUTHORITIES ACTIVE. : ■'. LONDON, December '4, ■ . The I 'printers: of "Irish Freedom," "Sinn Fein," : the "Irish' Worker," v<; ljrisdV yojluriteer,'' and the''' Leader' * ' ■ were; warned..that they would, be liable to >be ; eourfc-martialled under an Order-in-.Council if'they print matter the milieonsideiviikely to cause disaffection or. , interfere with recruiting;..:.' -,;., ■'.. .;■ . The Irish Government was not responsible for the seizures of the newspapers., J .police, of Dublin acted wholly on orders, , , , j All arms ammunition landed Ir-eland 'hare been seized. Calcutta .reports state that\ tihe in"genious, efforts of -German diplomacy to stir up Mohammedan -discontent in India are ai dismal failure, Even Moslems; who J?elieve the Young Tux'k Party rchioriibeii*- the Koran's command to to the Sovereign. COMMONWEALTH NEWS. % NEW GUINEA CAPITULATION. TERMS CAUSE DISSATISFACTION. MELBOURNE, December 4. The price of bread will be advanced to 8d a 41b loaf on Monday. In the Senate in : answer to a question, Senator Pearce admitted that the Government '" was dissatisfied with the terms of the New Guinea capitulation. The matter had been submitted to the British Government.

FURTHER TROOPS EMBARKED. SUSPENSION OF FINED PEICES. (Received Dumber 5, 10 a.m.) SYDNEY, December 5. The papers publish photographs of the embarkation of further troops for the tropics. MELBOURNE, December 6. In the Assembly on Tuesday the Op position will move a want of confidence motion, over the suspension of the fixed prices for wheat) flour, bran, and pollard. ... '.■ I:: .v'.;.v; ~'"'. BELGIUM RELIEF FUND. Mr Cyril J. Ward, Acting-Consul for Belgium at Christchurch, acknowledges with thanks the following donations for -remittance to the Belgian authorities:—- . ; • • £■■ s. d. Previously acknowledged .. 2232 14 10 A. Mutter .".' ...... 10 0 School children Upper Eic : carton School, donation' of sports and prizehioney which children decided to forgo to help poor Belgian children (per H. English, headmaster) 25 0 0 St. Augustine Church of England Sunday School, Waimate, donation of prize-money which children decided to forgo to help distressed Belgian children (per his Worship the Mayor, Waimate) .. 5 0 0 Wainui ...... .. .... 0 7 0 Arawa Tennis Club " Copiestine, '' proceeds of opening social (per Miss Nellie Dunne) .. .. ..'■' .. 5 5 0 Proceeds of sale of work at Peel Forest (per Mrs C. A. Dunn, Iluntsham, Bangitata) '-'..-. .. .-. 15 0 6 rTakaka County Council List > —Geo. Hume 2/-, Andy Hume 2/-, Bessie Goodwin. and Freda Page 11/-, C. H. Sleny (proceeds of" dance) 15/-, Anonymous - 10/0, proceeds- gift auction sale (per W. Neilson, secretary Farmers' Union) £132 3/- .....: ..134 3 0 -N. Sowden,. Lyttelton .. 010 0

Total received and re- ; mitted to date .. 24W 0 4 Including the above, the Takaka County Council's contribution to date is £261 16/4.

NAPIER'S CONTRIBUTION. Press Association. NAPIER, December 5. The secretary of the A. and P. Society yesterday ~ forwarded to the Premier £1450 for transmission, to. London, for the Belgian Fund. Organised collections are being made to-day on behalf of the Christmas Gift: Fund. EXPORT OF WOOL. As a matter 'of interest to growers, buyers, and brokers, the president of the New Zealand Wool Brokers' Association, addressed a telegram to the Premier, suggesting that, in view of thie' Commonwealth having.removed the embargoon. the export of wool to Canada and Japan, it might be advisable foi; the Dominion, to do likewise. . • . " To this suggestion the following reply lias been received from the Premier:— "There ia no embargo upon the export of wool to "Canada or Japan, provided shipped in British or Allies' vessels.,.''