EARLIER MESSAGES.

Colonist, Volume LVII, Issue 13732, 22 March 1915, Page 5

EARLIER MESSAGES.

JAPANESE ARMY'S EFFICIENCY

BRITISH GENERAL'S ADMIRA-

TION

EXCHANGE OB 1 CIVILIAN PRIS-

ONERS

London, March 18

General Barnardiston, commanding the British., forces at Tsing-tao, expresses his admiration, for the Japanese, whose army is an excellent fighting machine. The men are well-dis-ciplined, and possess ample initiative.

The Japanese have the greatest possible admiration for Great Britain, and realise that as long as Japan and Great Britain are friends there will Be peace in the Far East, and that is what they want.

The "Petit Farisien" declares that as China has been kow-towing to Germany, Japan is taking military measures and precautions.

Great Britain and Germany have agreed to exchange unfit civilians of all ages.

Speaking in the House of Commons, Dr. MacNamara, Secretary to the Admiralty, stated that the hire of nine ships which were used for the internment of prisoners of war, amounted to £86,000 a, month.

The Swiss correspondent of "The Times" says:—"At the commencement of the war the Swiss were inclined to favour Germany. They speak a common language, and have German blood in their veing, German clothes on their backs, German coal in their stoves, arid German proprietors in their shops. The professors in the universities have 'kultur' in their minds, and there is German money and brains in their newspapers. When the Swiss saw that Germany was not winning, and perhaps would be defeated, a revulsion of feeling sev in, beginning with, recent deceptions in regard to news of

CABLE NEWS- S

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Gorman origin and misrepresentation regarding the violation of Belgium neutrality. They have learned the truth as to' German atrocities and the falsity of the- news of German victories. They realise that German competition is seriously threatening Swiss economic independence." ' As the result of the Dresden's capture the grain rates on the West Coast of North America have dropped. The Peruvian barque Lorton has arrived at Valparaiso with the crew of the British barque Coinvay Castle, the last vessel to be, sunk by the Dresden, on February 27 last. Reports from Valparaiso state that the Dresden put into Juan Fernandez and re-quested permission to Remain there a week for repairs, but the authorities compelled her to leave, because she was not damaged. An agreement has been reached between the Admiralty and the British shipping companies whose vessels have been requisitioned for the carriage of meat from Australia. It has been decided that freights shall be 3s a ton above i'ho Blue Book rates for the period of the war. Shipowners regard the rates as a ■compromise, and consider that had they ofcosen- they could have made out a strong case for better terms. Fifteen hundred ladies, headed by the Countess of Limerick and Lady Jelliooe, cold shamrocks in the streets in aid of the funds to maintain free buffets at stations for soldiers.

A big wreath of shamrock and laurel leaves was placed on the late Lord Roberta's grave at St. Paul's.

Queea Alexandra sent shamrocks to the Irish Guards who are at the front.