NOTES FROM LONDON.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 144859, 10 December 1915, Page 3

NOTES FROM LONDON.

PROBABLE INADEQUACY. OF LORD DERBY’S RECRUITS. TIMES AND SYDNEY SUN SERVICES. (Received Dec. 10, 8 a.m.) i LONDON. Dee. 9. There are movements among Liberals to secure an extension of the recruiting . effort. Lord Derby states that it will be definitely closed on Saturday, and adds that he has not secured sufficient men. Civil servants, “starred” and “unstarred,” are informed they should attend. ' [“Starred” employments are those that are considered necessary even in war time.] MR. FORD’S EMPLOYEES. ALSO SEEK FOR PEACE. TIMES AND SYDNEY SUN SERVICES. (Received Dec. 10, 8 a.m.) LONDON, Dec. 9. Henry Ford’s employees at Manchester, headed by a band, marched to the Army Office and enlisted. ECONOMY IN SOLDIERS’ FOOD. NEW COURT ARRANGEMENTS. (Received Doc. 10, 8.30 a.m.) LONDON, Dec. 9. In the House of Lords, Lord Newton I stated that the reduction of the moat ration for the troops in the field had effected a saving of £3600 daily. The Judicial Committee Bill passed the second loading, enabling two divisions to sit simultaneously, otherwise an unusual number of Prize Court appeals are likely to fall into arrears. Lord Buckmastor explainer! that the Bill did not alter the constitution of the committee which, being an Imperial Court, might sit in any part of the Empire.

REI>CROSS SOCIETIES. SPLENDID WORK DONE. BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.—COPYRIGHT. LONDON, Dec. 9. Lord Lansdowno made a striking epecch to the Red Cross and fet. John Ambulance Societies - . In moving thanks to tlje Oversea Dominions for their splendid-help and response to the Red Cross appeal, he said that their magnificent contribution had boon a vast power.in the alleviation of suffering. The Dominions’ generosity had been tested in the past, and again it had been proved to remain. Remembering their many domestic calls, the lavishness -of their contributions showed the dominions’ confidence in the manner in which the funds were administered. Yet the help from overseas must not be measured by money, because to a * great extent they were fighting the world over. The dominions had made magnificent contributions. “We used,” continued Lord Lansdowne, “to estimate a British expeditionary force for a European struggle ' at 60,000 or 70,000 men. The position has changed. Australia and Canada * have 'each sent .one hundred thousand * fighting men ,to the field. South Africa accomplished its own brilliant campaign and then sent contingents to three other ' theatres. New Zealand has given twenty-five thousand men. Not only in numbers, but in quality, the Dominions’ troops have won admiration, and notable dispatches have acclaimed their services. , “Nobody reading General Hamilton’s account of the landing on April 28 can ever forgot the conduct of the Australians and New Zealanders. The Dominions have provided a still more valuable asset to our moral strength by . the unstinted support to our cause. By ,raore than any other happening during this protracted war this has strengthened the Empire in the estimation of the world. , ‘ ‘President Wilson had complained of conspiracy and intrigue, an inpouring of the poison of disloyalty into the arteries of their national life, but the virus of . corruption was innocuous to our great oversea possessions. After the war what the Dominions have done will remain in imperishable letters. I arm convinced that the effect npon the destinies of the Empire will be lasting and incalculably great.” “OTTR DAY” SUBSCRIPTIONS. (Received Dec. 10, 8.30 a.m.) LONDON, Dec. 9. The subscription to the special “Our Day” collection for the Red Cross totalled £797,000, of which Canada provided £220,000, Egypt £115,000, New Zealand £15,550 and Australia £IO,OOO. Lord Lansdowno said that the dominions had given over £250,000 to the Red Cross. THE RECRUITING MOVEMENT. A FINAL RUSH. LONDON, Dec. 9. Lord Derby’s announcement that*tho enlistment groups will positively close on Saturday has resulted in a remarkable recruiting rally in every big centre. Many offices are open day and night, and the recruiting staffs are enlarged. Recruiting agents state that married men aro still preponderant, two married men enlisting to one single, many of the latter still believing that the Government will not resort to compulsion. The Daily News says that it is understood that the Government will ask for a million men on the army vote next week, when particulars will be forthcoming of the results of Lord Derby’s scheme. . REPLY TO PACIFISTS. . BY BRITISH PREMIER. LONDON, Dec. 8. In the House of Commons, replying to Mr. Phillip Snowden,-Mr. Asquith said that the Entente had mutually agreed not to conclude a separate peace. Mr. Asquith added that if serious proposals for a general peaco were submitted by the enemy, through a neutral or direct, they would first bo discussed by the Allied Governments, It would be the desire of the Govenanent to take Parliament into its confidence at the earliest possible moment. Sir E. Grey, replying to Mr. Cornwall, said he had not been asked to guarantee safe conduct to Captain Boyed. The number of safe conduct passes granted to Austro-Germans coming from America had been four, in-„siuding._ona.A<«L,Co,unt.-Dumba.

THE MESOPOTAMIA CAMPAIGN. GENERAL TOWNSHEND'S LOSSES. LONDON, Dec. 9. In the House of Commons Mr. Chamberlain stated that 633 men had been killed and 3300 wounded at the battle of Ctosiphon. The losses in General Townshend’s retreat were about 300. Reinforcements had been ordered before the advance to Ctesiphon, and some had arrived. Mr. Chamberlain eulogised the bravery of the troops and the clover withdrawal.