NOTES FROM LONDON.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 144857, 8 December 1915, Page 3

NOTES FROM LONDON.

THE MESOPOTAMIA CAMPAIGN. A. SUCCESSFUL RETREAT. TIMES AND SYDNEY SDN SERVICES. LONDON Dec. 6. Hr. Lovat Fraser, in the Daily Mai l ., writes: “Toare is no question of rout and disaster about the Bagdad retreat. General Townshend not only removed the wounded by steamer, but was able to marcn with 1600 prisoners. . The Turkish pursuit was most persistent for eight days after the battle of Ctesiphon. The enemy guns disabled two armed river steamers, which had to be abandoned. The fighting was Severe, and the casualties indicate that 2000 of our dead were left on the field. One must assume that the intelligence officers on tho Tigris were not aware of the opposing strength, and this is not surprising, since they are compelled to rely on tho reports of Orientals, who have most vague ideas of numbers. The most anxious factor in tho situation is that the news will soon reach Eamadan, which is the centre of freebooters, Austro-German agents, and corrupt members of the Persian Parliament who Save itching palms. Tribal desperadoes are lured with rifles and gold, and a German Minister is apparently at the head of this motley crew. “Hamadan,” continues Mr. Fraser, “is the place worth watching for the solution of the Near East problem. Our anxieties may be summed up in those words: 'Guard Egypt first Our prestige throughout the East will stand or fall, not by failure or success at the Dardanelles, the adventure in tho Balkans, or the minor thrust at Bagdad, hut more than anything by the ability to hold tho Suez Canal. It is the jugular vein, and wo must hold it \or we are undone. Failure to make it impregnable against attack will mean instant trouble in India, cause dismay in Australasia, and a collapse in the Far East.’ ” A GREAT TURKISH EFFORT. TOWARDS THE PERSIAN GULF. (Received Dec. 8, 10.45 a.m.) GENEVA, Dec. 7. Le Journal de Geneve states that the Germans have planned a great effort by the Turks in Mesopotamia. It seems to be connected with the Persian developments. The railways in Anatolia,are exclusively used for war transport. • The Germans fear a British landing at Adana, from where General von dcr Goltz's communications aro specially vulnerable. Although the Germans ostensibly threaten to attack Egypt it is more probable that they will devote the winder to an attempt to reach the Persian Gulf via Bagdad, but the Sinai railway is already completed to Hafir, 60 miles from Suez. VON DER GOLTZ IN COMMAND. (Received Dec. 8, 8.25 a.m.) GENEVA, Doc. 7. Advices from Constantinople state that General von der Goltz is the commander of the Turkish forces in Mesopotamia. CLOSER MILITARY CO-OPERATION LONDON, Deoi 7.

In the House of Commons,. Mr. Asquith made an important announcement. He said that arrangements for closer military co-operation had been completed regarding France, and were under consideration in connection with our other Allies. It was not in the public interest to announce the details of these arrangements, as they might be of value to the enemy. England, France, Russia, Italy, Serbia, and Belgium were represented at thecouncil. TRADE WITH DENMARK. LONDON, Dec. 7. Sir J. B. Lonsdale asked for particulars of tho agreement with the Merchants’ Guild at Copenhagen, and whether it was permitted to re-export to belligerents. ... Lord Robert Cecil said the agreement was based on the principle of effective distinction between bona fide neutral and enemy overseas trade, and of this the Admiralty had approved. Lord Robert Cecil emphatically denied lord Charles Beresford’s suggestions that this was a further, surrender of. our .ask .power.

LORD DERBY’S SCHEME. A FURTHER TRIAL WANTED. (Received Dec. 8, 8.25 a.tri.) LONDON, Deo. 7. Tho Daily Chronicle says there is a growing feeling that the politicians’ time limit to Lord Derby's scheme ought to bo extended to December 31. There has boon a considerable muddle. Wo don’t like to suggest that this is .the Machiavellian handiwork of conscriptionist officials, but unless Lord Derby again brings common sense and business instinct to bear no convinced anti-conscriptiopist is going to regard tho proceedings as a fair test of tho voluntary system. GERMAN PEACE TALK. LONDON, Dec. 6. The German press is deliberately promoting the belief that peaco ta!k is popular in England, and is reporting that Lord Haldane and Mr. Masterman are declaring their increasing desire for a definite understanding of tho intentions of tho Asquith Ministry as to what the war is for, and aro disposed to enter into peace negotiations. Meanwhile -Germany is iranticaily warned against waste, and tho people aro not to bum candles at Christmas time.

The Daily Mail says that tho Germans tried peace talk in 1870, finding it cheaper than expending lives and shells. The army fought with tho utmost vigour, while tho Government talked the loudest and succeeded in deluding the'French into blackening their efforts. Tho Empire should keep its eyes Open, or wo will find that the Germans, while trying to fool the enemy with talk, are not forgetting the war. SITUATION IN PERSIA. STORY OF GERMAN PLOTS. TIMES AND SYDNEY SUN SECVICCS. (Received Dec. 8, 8 a.m.) LONDON, Doc. 7. The Times’ Persian correspondent writes that Germany paved tho way in Persia by instating commercial agents at the ports and consuls throughout the country. German agents who professed to be scientific travelling enthusiasts enjoye tho hospitality of tho British consulate while they wore really paid agents aiming at the destruction of British influence. Shortly before tho war the German consulates opened out with many well-armed retainers, impressing tho Orientals. Daredevils were brought from the villages and armed. • After the war broke out many German and Austrian officers collected fit the consulate and brought gold, ammunition, and machine-guns, and tried, with varying fortune, to get in caravans wit hgold and arms. A wireless station was installed and Gorman war bulletins issued everywhere. The Persians were impressed by the lavish outlay of money and the display of Gorman arms. In September the British consul was shot and tho gendarmes did not act. Warnings were given that no British life was safe, and tho whole colony, including the occupants of the schools, hospitals, and banks, travelled by caravan for nineteen days in terrible heat to tho Persian Gulf. The Germans were thus left supreme. Tho British consul called on a friendly chieftain, and was astonished to find the Ispahan representative of tho German Emperor smoking tho chieftain’s tobacco. There could have been no btter illustration of the Gorman policy. No stone was left unturned to gain their ends. ,