GENERAL ITEMS.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 December 1915, Page 5

GENERAL ITEMS.

NOTES FROM THE TIMES. Times and Sydney Sun Services, LOSSES OF AIRMEN. London, Dec. 19. In the House of Commons Sir A. B. Markliam asked whether Lord Robert Cecil possessed undisclosed information when he stated that we were within little oE a great victory in the Dardanelles. •Lord Robert Cecil said that his observation was literally true, but unfortunately, to his profound regret, events had not justified it.

Mr. Tennant said that in the six months to November 30, twenty-five army aviators had been killed, fortythree wounded, ten were missing, and forty-four were: prisoners or interned. IN MONASTIR DISTRICT. Mr. Calvert reports from Salonika that there are bitter complaints coming in from Monastir of the Bulgarian military treatment of the Greeks. The province is regarded as definitely annexed to Bulgaria. Apparently the Bulgarian armies are lacking most necessaries, and the inhabitants are subjected to the heaviest requisitions. Greeks are compelled to pay imposts greater than those placed on the Bulgarian population. The Germans endeavored to secure fairer treatment for the Greeks, which is leading to further friction between the Germans and Bulgarians. ROUMANIA STILL WAITING. A deputy questioned the Roumanian Government regarding the German press propaganda, in Roumania and also criticised M. Bratianu'a policy. M. Bratianu replied that if the national security was threatened lie would take the necessary measures for its conservation. The leader Marghlaeomar has memorialised King Ferdinand urging Roumania'a entry into the war on the side of the Central Powers. ALBANIAN CAMPAIGN PROBABLE. U Giornale d'ltalia says that the Bulgarian entry into Albania obviously indicates an attempt to annihilate the remainder of the Serb army and to prevent the Italians re-forming and refitting it. The Bulgar move towards Durazzo has ft political objective which Italy cannot tolerate. The paper does not think the Bulgarians will participate in the attacks on Salonika, though Bulgar troops may fight disguised in German uniforms and with German officers. Austria apparently contemplates nn Albanian protectorate, including Ipek and Drakovo. Montenegro may share Serbia's fate since Austria is determined to end the menace to the port of Cattaro. Albania will probably be the theatre of'a new Balkan war before the spring. Athens reports corroborate the possibility of disguised Bulgar troops. LABOR IN PEACE TIME. Received Dec. 20, 5.5 p.m. London, Dec, 19,

•Mr. Henderson, M.P., contributed to the Laibor Year Book a forecast of what Laibor will be confronted with after the war. He says that the first year's peace will be a time of grave depression, affecting not only single trades, but the whole industrial system. The utmost economy during the war ma> alleviate, but cannot wholly avert, tlie distress that is bound to follow the return of peace, and it may mean the renewal of many old struggles. THE TROUBLE IN PERSIA. The German Persian followers at Kum are flooding the capital with messages threatening the capital with invasion if the Shah refuses to side with the Turco-Germans. They have intercepted all communications with South. The British Consul has left Kurman for Bandarabbas. The Britisli colony at Shiraz is still in captivity in the mountains, and there is no news of the British colony at Yezd. After a, long captivity the British colony at Suntanabad has just arrived, its deliverance confusing the enemy in the districts bordering those where the Russians are operating. The enemy have taken possession of cash and securities in the English bariks at Ispahan, Shiraz and Yezd. AWAITING THE EiN'EMY. The Salonika correspondent of 11 Seccolo says that General Sarrail informed him that he is calmly awaiting the enemy to cross the Greek frontier. Possibly the Bulgarians may not do so; the military may, for political considerations prevent them, as they have sustained very heavy losses. Events will find us ready to resist all attacks, and the British jtaft' officer«. are equally osinftdsai.