NOTES FROM LONDON

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 144668, 30 April 1915, Page 3

NOTES FROM LONDON

"BRITISH-PRISONERS. ’AND GERMAN BRUTALITY. TIMES AND SYDNEY SUN SERVICES. (Received April 30, 8 a.m.) LONDON, April 29. Lord Lucas, in the House of Lords, * announced that the Admiralty’s policy was not one of reprisal, but the expression of the highest moral disapproval of the German methods. Submarines would be treated in accordance with the Hague Convention. Air. Primrose, in the House of Commons, protested at the treatment of prisoners, but protests were not. much good. The treatment was caicuhuedly of a cruel character. The Government, from a reliable .source, was informed that prisoners’ coats were almost invariably taken off, and that they were spat * upon without any remonstrance train their guards. Despite insults, the bearing of the prisoners throughout had been, beyond praise, but the conduct of the Germans was revolting, and showed the of brutality in its naked Air. Asquith said the mere publicity Df'the protest was of no avail, On the contrary, the more we protested the more the Germans might he tempted to think that it was exasperating to public feeling in Britain. Th most practical steps taken had been tho invoking of American good offices, which were considerably alleviating and mitigating the severest hardships. TREATAIENT OF SOAIAHINE PRISONERS. (Received April 30. 8.45 a.m.) LONDON, April 29. Mr. Macnamara. replying to a question, declared that Hie crews of German submarines were not kept m solitary confinement. They received similar‘treatment to'other prisoners of war, except that they were kept separate from other prisoners; Mr. Joynson-Hicks declared that he hoped tho answer would bo Inrwardod to America for publication in Germany.

THE BELGIAN REFUGEES. (Received April 30. 8.15 n.m.) LONDON, April 20. Mr. Samuel, in reply to a question in the House of Commons, said there were 180.000 Belgian refugees in rmglanrl. Many were employed in munition factories. RESPIRATORS FOR SOLDIERS. (Received April 30, 8.45 a.m.) LONDON. April 29. The public has already supplied the demand of the War Office for respirators. WOMEN WORKERS. HONOURS FOR NEUVE CHAPELLE LONDON, April 29, In the House of Commons. Air. -I. Al Robertson, secretary to the Board oi Trade, stated that 47.000 women had volunteered for war sendee and that 13,000 would shortly be engaged hi the manufacture of munitions. ’Victoria Crosses for Nenvc Chapelle wore awarded to:—. Sergeant-Major Daniels and Private Noble, both of the Rifle Brigade, for conspicuous bravery when wounded while cutting the wire entanglements. Noble died. Private AY. Buckingham, of the Leicostershires, for rescuing tho wounded while exposed to heavy fire. Private Rivers, of the Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment. On his own initiative he advanced within a few yards of a large number of the enemy .pa the hank of his company-and hurled

bombs. causing them to retire and relieving the situation. Rifleman Collar Sing Negni, ol tile Garwharl .Rifles, v. ho accompanied a bayonej. party with bombs against the enemy in the main trench. He was the first to go round each traverse, 'having the enemy and forcing surrender. He was kdled dnripg the engagement. Captain John Henry Arden (a .‘New Zealander), of the Worcestershircs. has been made a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order for eorispicuons gallantry and ability at Nenvc C’liapclle. AVben the batallion on his right was expelled from the trenches he formed his company under heavy lire and counter-attacked the German right with great determination, thus enabling the battalion to reoeeupy the trench.

General Hutton has resigned the command of the 2Lst Division of the new army, owing to ill-health.

DRINK REFORM PROPOSALS. THE REASONS FOR, ACTION. (Received April 30, 0.50 a.m.) LONDON, April 29. Air.' Lloyd George, explaining the proposal on the drink question, said tho Government /proposed to deal with excessive drinking among a section only—of those engaged jo" the output of nmnitions. Hie nation should exert its whole .strength and subordinate everything to tho present straggle and remove every obstacle in order to win. The outlook being one of life to the Empire, and the evil so serious, nothing but strong action would enable the nation to cope with it. The consideration of the question had been forced upon them by the officials responsible for the output. The .slackness in some shipyards was causing serious anxiety to the commanders of the beet. ' At Portsmouth, all honour to the men. 78 per cent, were working 60 hours and upwards weekly, compared with a normal 48 hours. The meq in some places wore doing less than an ordinary week’s work under normal conditions. Out of 8000 men employed hy one firm, after the three days’ holiday at Easier 1800 failed to return on the Tuesday. Every report declared that tho slackness in the shipyards was due to excessive drinking among a section, which was ascribahle to tho fact that they were earning more money than they knew what to do with.

Reports to the end of Atarch showed no perceptible improvement. Of 114 men employed by one firm- engaged in submarine work. 58 were off one day and 55 the next. This was due almost entirely to excessive drinking. Regarding armaments, letters from firms ascribed tlio slackness to tho sumo cause.

The director of transport stated the service was conducted with serious difficulty owing to excessive drinking, .ih; added Unit delay was the real danger to success in naval and military operations. However unnlessant the task, the Government would be betraying the trust of the country unless it proposed a remedy for all this evil. HEAVY TAXATION OF LIQUOR. He proposed to place a double duty on spirits, a surtax on beer of 12s a barrel from -13 to 48 specific gravity, 2-1 s between .10 and 53. and 3(is after that, and a duty on sparkling wines of 15s a gallon. Mr. Bonav Law advised the House to wait for Mr. Lloyd George’s Bill and reports before expressing an opinion. RESTRICTIONS ON CABLE CODES. (Received April 30. 1.30 p.m.) LONDON, April 29. In the House of Commons. Mr. Jovnstm Hicks urged the Government to allow more codes, especially with tlio dominions and India, as the present- limitations were crippling trades. The Government replied that it was imposiblo at present to consider increasing the codes, the 2>rotcciion of tho realm being of paramount consideration. CHINA AMO JAPAN. JAPAN PUTS ON THE SCREW. LONDON, April 29. China is disappointed with the revised demands. The minimum that Japan is prepared to accept is practically tho terms as originally submitted.