LATE WAR NEWS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume II, Issue 592, 3 January 1916, Page 10

LATE WAR NEWS.

THE SALONICA ARRESTS. A CRITICAL POSITION. By Cabu. — Press Association. — Copyright. (Received January 3, 3.25 p.m.) ATHENS. January 2. The air raid and arrests of Consuls at Salonica have caused a commotion, and are regarded as the commencement of hostilities in Greek territory. It is expected that Field-Marshal Mackenscn will succeed in persuading the Bulgars to enter Greece. BRAVE WORDS. ALLIES' UNITED STRENGTH. ARMY COMMANDERS EXCHANGE MESSAGES. (Received January 3, 3.15 p.m.) LONDON, January 2. Sir Douglas Haig sent a message to General Jotfre: —"The past year knit more closely the ties uniting our two nations. I pray and believe our united strength in 1910 will enable us, finally, to drive the enemy far beyond the borders of your beloved . country. All ranks send a testimony of deep friendship and admiration to yourself and the armies of France." General Joffre replied:—"l trust that the equal confidence and cooperation of all ranks will lead to still greater success, and our combined efforts enable us to defeat our enemies completely. I wish to express the deep sympathy, affection, and comradeship -toe all feel towards you and the British armies under your command." APPEAL TO TRADE UNIONS. MR ASQUITH SPEAKS PLAINLY. DILUTION AN INCALCULABLE GAIN. (Received January 3, 3.25 p.m.) LONDON, January 3. Official: Mr Asquith and Mr Lloyd George received a deputation of the Amalgamated Society of Engineers. Mr Asquith stressed the importance of the wholehearted dilution of labour on a large scale without which Mr Lloyd George could neither meet the necessities of war nor the armies carry on etticiently. It is all-important that we should get the required output domestically instead of importing foreign goods. A serious financial problem is the obligation to pay with a share of exports to America for munitions supplied. Dilution would mean an incalculable gain from the point of view of military efficiency and financial stability. There was nothing more important than the manufacture of munitions

on the largest possible scale, and in the best possible conditions. Despite the March agreement, dilution had been sparingly adopted. TRADE WITH THE ENEMY. NEW DEPARTMENT ESTABLISHED. (Received January 3, !..2r> p.m.) LONDON, January 2. Mr Laming Worthi/iglon Evans, controls the .foreign trade department established as the new depart- *. ment of the Foreign Oiliee to carry out provisions of the Trading with the Enemy Act.' The Government appeals for the advice and assistance of Chambers of Commerce to secure the full benefit of (lie policy, the success of which depends on the active co-operation of the business community.

LABOUR AND THE WAR SOCIETY OF ENGINEERS. BARGAIN WITH THE GOVERNMENT. The High Commissioner reports: LONDON, January 2 (7.10 p.m.) At a conference with the Prime Minister and the Minister of Munitions, on Friday, a deputation from the Amalgamated Society of Engineers passed a resolution deciding to accept a scheme lor dilution, and pledging the membership of (he society to co-operate actively therein, provided the Government pledged ilself to incorporate in a Bill the power to enforce the rales of paj

and the conditions of labour, as set out in documents, in the controlled establishments. In the Champagne district the French heavy artillery elFectively bombarded the euemy's barracks last night, north of Bouconville Wood and Malmason. ENEMY CONSULS. DEPORTED FROM SALONICA. ALLIES GUARDING THE CONSULATES. (Received January 3, 12.55 p.m.) SALONICA, January 2. Enemy Consuls and their suites, numbering 51, have been sent on a steamer to an unknown destination. General Sarrail, the French commander at Salonica, declares that he acted after full consideration, and carried out this act of war. Greece, in addition to a protest, has asked for the return of the consular achives. Some newspapers denounce the incident as a violation of Greece's sovereign rights. The Entente Press justify it as a reply to aeroplanes bombarding neutral and unfortified towns. The Allies continue to guard the consulates. ' ENEMY REPORTS. COMMUNIQUES FROM THREE CENTRES. SUCCESSES CLAIMED. (Received January 3, 1.55 p.m.) AMSTERDAM, January 2. A German communique states:— "Strong English detachments failed to penetrate our position northeast of Armentieres. "We repulsed weak Russian divisions at various points, except northward of Lake Drysviaty, where the Russians temporarily entered our position." VIENNA, January 2. A bridge was opened over the Save, near Belgrade, on Friday, reestablishing railway communication with Turco-Bulgaria. It is claimed that Belgrade is normal, and that most of the inhabitants have returned. A Turkish communique states:— "Our batteries at the Narrows bombarded the landing place at Sedd-ul-Rahr. The French ship Suffren, covered by five torpedo boats, replied unsuccessfully.

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The caskets and addresses which are being presented by the people of New Zealand to Generals Botha and Smuts, in recognition of their achievements in conquering German South-West Africa, and of their loyalty to the British Empire, have now been packed ready for Shipment, and were to be dispatched from Auckland for Cape Town, through one of the carrying companies, on Tuesday. Each of the caskets is of artistic design, and is mounted on greenstone and New Zealand woods. A -suitable letter has been dispatched by the com-

mittee to each of the recipients, stating that the presentations have been subscribed by people in all parts of New Zealand. The cost of the presentations amounted to some £3OO, and the balance of the amount subscribed —-about £7o— be forwarded to South Africa, to be placed to the credit of the South African Wounded Soldiers' Fund. "Surgeons arc finding in the bullet and the piece of shrapnel an unexpected ally so far as the elucidation of medical and scientific problems is concerned," states ''The Times." "Before I lie war there were regions of the body concerning which little was known; disease seldom visited them directly, yet profound effects seemed to follow from their derangement during the course of illness of remote origin. Brain conditions are a good example of this. Today the bullet has penetrated directly where disease did not go, and so to-day medical men are- having revealed to them all manner of new considerations and new conceptions. It says much for the acumen of the Army Medical Staff that they are alive to this new state of affairs, and that every facility is given for careful study of the many strange cases which are being met with. Posterity will certainly reap a great reward in better knowledge and better methods of treatment. Amongst all the evils of tin.' war it is at least satisfactory to know that one evil has been found out of which lasting benefit may c.ome to humanity.