GENERAL ITEMS.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 December 1915, Page 6

GENERAL ITEMS.

NOTES FROM THE TIMES. LORD DERBY'S SCHEME. Times and Sydney Sun Services. London, December 21. The press and the public are gratified at Lord Derby's uncompromising assurance that the. Government does not think of departing from the letter or the spirit of the scheme. The voluntary response is a magnificent testimony of the dogged British determination to win the war, but a section of the press forecasts that a sharp summons and a quick response will be necessary after the first of Lord Derby's groups have been actually called, if not compulsion, because certainly every fit man will be ultimately needed. WOMEN TRAM-DRIVERS. The Berlin Trainwdy Company are installing female drivers and the people are protesting that it is dangerous. NO CHRISTMAS FESTIVITIES. The Kaiser hn« issued a rigorous order about Christmas celebrations throughout Germany declining to accept burgomasters' greetings and ordering no festivities before peace. BRITISH NAVAL ACTIVITY. Writing in the Berliner Tageblatt, Captain Persius says that during the past sixteen months the English yards have been trying, at a tremendous pace, to satisfy the needs of the Navy, laying down keel after keel. Despite the enormous strength of the Navy it lias been unable to accomplish its task of destroying the enemy. MORE BOASTING. The German press declares that during the .first year of the war 89,5 per cent, of the wounded recovered and rejoined their regiments, 8.8 per cent, were discharged, and there were 1.7 per cent, deaths. It boasts that no army in tlia world can show such favorable returns. THE MERCANTILE MARINE. Received Dec. 22, 5.5 p.m. London, Dec. 21. The Times' naval correspondent says that the depletion of the British mercantile tonnage available for commercial purposes continues, and is likely to become more marked. The principal reasons are the number of enemy vessels that are laid up in foreign ports, and the losses, and insufficient facilities for replacing them owing to navy demands. The Austro-German fleets have been driven out of the carrying trade, and Russian ships are shut up in the Baltic and the Black Sea. Submarining has affected the mercantile marine, because they are the chief sufferers. If shipbuilders were replacing the losses it Would not embarrass tradp; but the shipbuilding firms are utilised for another purpose, and the enormous development of the a.rmies abroad obviously withdraws increasing tonnage. It is rumored that it is proposed to purchase the German vessels that are laid up in American ports. It is stated that certain British lines have been forced to considerably reduce sailings. A subject of the greatest importance is the maintenance of effectives, as the navy depends upon flourishing commerce, and the scarcity of mercantile ships may lead to a scarcity of food in Britain. SWEDEN AND GERMANY. A Danish paper has published an assurance that Sweden is entering into the war 011 the German side in April. The Swedish press unanimously and indignantly refutes the story, declaring it silly and malicious gossip, designed to undermine British friendship, and the press charges Denmark with passing to Germany merchandise consigned from Sweden. The papers protest aganst the suspicion that Germany has bribed Sweden to invade Finland in the spring. THE TURKISH ARMIES. The Paris paper Le Temps says that eleven Turkish divisions are operating in the Caucasus, fifteen in the Dardanelles, three are stationed at Smyrna, three at Janina, three in Syria, and five are moving on to Bagdad. The Germans are furnishing only officers and heavy artillery against Egypt.