BRITAIN.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 March 1916, Page 5

BRITAIN.

NEW ZEALAND'S HERGESDEEDS OF VALOR. PieceiveJ March 13, 1.25 a.m. London, March 12. The deeds for which Distinsoishod Conduct medals were granted New Zealauders '.>> January have boon gazetted. Sorgt.-Major Boate and Sergt. Mitchell received medals for bravery and resource in hloding the right flank against a weak point, a work requiring great vigilance. Sergt.-Major Ricketts showed great bravery and resource and set a fine example; Sergts. Campbell and Graham shewed great bravery and resource and marked devotion to duty; Sergts. R. and J. Harper showed conspicuous gallantry when in charge of machineguns; Sergt. Tavender exhibited great bravery and skill as a guide, and marked devotion to dangerous duties; CorporU Watson showed conspicuous gallantry m twice crossing a heavily fire-swept zone, carrying ammunition, and also in bringing in a wounded man under heavy fire; Corporal Spencer showed great bravery and skill in repairing a trench and leading his men under heavy Are; Trooper Armstrong exhibited conspicuous gallantry when in charge of machine-guns; Trooper Winter showed conspicuous gallantry in rescuing, on two occasions, wounded men, carrying them on his back to the dressing station; Private Parganihi showed conspicuous gallantry during an attack, as although unarmed he seized an armed Turk and compelled him to surrender; Sapper Dignan showed conspicuous gallantry in laying a telephone in daylight, under heavy fire, and later, when the line was broken he carried an important despatch under heavy fire.

; CASE HARDENED. ROUGH ON MR. CHURCHILL. Received March 12, 5.5 p.m. London, March 11. The Spectator says that the most case-hardened politician of the most demoralised epoch of the eighteenth century would have recoiled from Mr. Churchill's manoeuvres in the recent debate. EXTRAVAGANCE IN DRESS. , 'AN APPEAL TO WOMEN. Received March 12, 5.5 p.m. London, March 11. The War Savings Committee appeals against extravagance in women's dress, hats, boots, and stockings. Many women have already recognised that elaboration and variety of dress is bad form, but numbers of rich and poor have not changed their habits. CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS. Beceived March 12, 5.5 p.m. London, March 10. In view of the number of conscientious objectors, the War Office has formed a non-cornbatant corps, with the usual rates of pay for infantry, without proficiency pay. LOSSES BY BOMBARDMENT AND AIR RAIDS. London, March 10. Mr. Asquith, in reply to a question, said that, during the war the number of non-combatants killed by bombardbent was 49 men, 39 women and 39 children, and by air raids 127 men, 92 women and 57 children. Those drowned on board merchantmen and fishing vessels totalled approximately 2750.

Jfc BY-ELECTION. London, March 10. In the East Herts election, Billing, the aviator, was elected by 4590 votes against Henderson (Coalitionist), 3559. Mr. Rolleston resigned owing to Hihealth. (Mr. Billing recently stood for a London constituency, his programme being better protection against air raids). TRADE AFTER THE WAR. London, March 10. Mr. Robertson raised the question of the Government's fiscal policy in connection with the npproachjjig conference in Paris. He would not object if measures could he planned to keep Germany economically weak, provided they did not prove injurious to the Allies. He feared a boycott would prevent Germany paying any indemnity. If preference was given to the dominions over the Allies it would create the most serious difficulties, and if preference was given to the Allies over neutrals it would drive the latter into Germany's arms and place ourselves at a disadvantage in exporting to America compared with Germany. Mr. Asquith said there need be no apprehension that our representations at the Paris conference would fetter the action of the Government or the House of Commons. It was wise to participate in the exchange of views. The changing economic conditions due to the war were producing enormous destruction of capital and unexampled dislocation of industry. We must not be led by passion or the desire to make victory secure to adopt measures which .would inflict greater injuries oh ourselves than upon the enemy. The Government would not commit the country upon a matter on which they must also consult the dominions. ■■: MR. HUGHES' VISIT. , i London, March 10. The Daily Chroniele, commenting on Mr. Hughes' visit, says we must be jcareful not to push neutrals into the German markets or punish Germany at our expense. But it will be wise to support a policy preventing us depending on Germany for important industries and also for providing safeguards against German commercial aggression. The Daily Telegraph applauds Mr. Hughes for emphasising the inter-rela-tion between commerce and industry and national safety. rJritain should imitate Germany in this. We shall find ,the dominions with us heart and soul.

The Times says that while Sir R, Borden created one precedent Mr. Hughes' knowledge of Canadian and New Zealand opinion gives him a position of unusual authority in his relations with the 'erne Govtiaaie^

BRITISH SHIPPING.

GERMAX CASUALTIES. Received March 12, 0.15 p.m. London, March JIV Mr. Runciman, in the House of Commons, announced that at the end of 1815 the tonnage of British' shipping registered 12,410,400, as compared with 12,119,881 at the end of 1913. ' The German casualty lists in February showed:—Dead, 10,211 ;• wounded; 21,625; prisoners and missing, 3302. The aggregate casualties since the war, exclusive of tl'.e naval and colonial casualties, are 2,607,372. BRITISH PRTSOXERS IX COXSTAXTIXOPLE. London, Marcli 10, Lord Robert Cecil, in the. House of Commons, said the American Ahtbasiador had supplied a list of 491 British prisoners In Constantinople. When the Porte furnished lists the Government would supply lists of Turkish prisoners in our 'hands, Mr. 'Pennant said that 333 , officers and 11,221' men were Wfcuridcd or missing at the. Dardanelles. .<, i ni