COMMONWEALTH

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 144778, 7 September 1915, Page 3

COMMONWEALTH

PLOTS AT RABAUIi. - NIPPED IN THE BUD, SYDNEY, Sept. 6. A further statement regarding the Rabaul raid indicates that attempts were made by Germans to send money, to help tho Fatherland. Natives, over whom the Germans had a great hold, supplied evidence of a plot to overthrow the administration and regain possession of the island. During the progress of a function that would be attended by the naval and military huthorities, the Gormans were to rise and capture the whole party. The natives forewarned the authorities, who nipped the scheme in tho bud, and arrested certain men. It is alleged that goods were imported marked “camera' plates,” and “implements,” and a search disclosed arms of various descriptions. Another story is that of a schooner which was seized with arms and ammunition aboard. A quantity of important documents were also seized. RABAUL PLOT DENIED. NOTHING REALLY SERIOUS. (Received Sept. 7, 8.30 a.m.) MELBOURNE, Sept. 7. Mr. Pearce denied the reported plot and rising in New Guinea. He explains that as the result of confidential information a search was instituted and revealed- that certain people, including some German missionaries, had broken their parole and had not delivered up their arms as requested. Three were arrested, but nothing of the nature of a rising occurred. Remount unit for egypt. (Received Sept. 7, 8.30 a.m.) MELBOURNE, Sept. 7. Tho Imperial Army Council has accepted, the Commonwealth offer to organise and equip a remount unit for service in Egypt, with the age limit extended to 50 years, in order to release the younger men now tending the horses. AUSTRALIAN HOSPITALS. VERY BADLY ORGANISED. (Received Sept. 7, 9.3 a.m.) MELBOURNE, Sept. 7. Writing from Ghezireh on July 15 to Lady Munro-Ferguson, Colonel J. W. Sprmgbhorpe states that the Bed Cross organisation in Egypt has failed to an almost incredible degree. To date there is no depot near the front and no arrangements for forwarding comforts. A depot was only established at Lemnos weeks after it was needed. There is the same lack of preparation and comforts on the troopships bringing the wounded to Alexandria and in tho Cairo hospitals. At first tho wounded simply arrived in the clothes they stood in. The contrast between tho hospitals under British-Egyptian control and the -Australian could hardly he exaggerated. They aro as commendable and satisfactory as ours are unsatisfactory and open to condemnation. The same tale of neglect applies to the transports conveying the wounded and sick to Australia. DISPLAY OF AUSTRALIAN GOODS.

. SYDNEY, Sept 6. In connection with the Empire movement to capture trade formerly held by Germans, and also to develop local manufactures, over three thousand shops are displaying for a week Australian manufactured goods. During 1913, the last year for which figures are available, Australia imported seven million pounds’ worth per month of German manufactures.