NOTES FROM LONDON.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 16448, 31 May 1919, Page 3

NOTES FROM LONDON.

NEWSPAPER DEMAND. FOR RAISING OF BLOCKADE, j By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. (Received May 31, 8.50 a.m.) LONDON, May 18. The Observer, in an article, demands the immediate raising of the blockade, which is inflicting frightful misery upon Germany, especially on the women and children. The treaty must be considerably modified, otherwise man- ■ kind will certainly drift back to | slaughter, following social and interna- • tional dissension. The democratic j forces everywhere must resolve that the paper peace must speedily become the I real peace for a reconstructed and reconciled Europe, abiding by the single , commandment; 1 ‘There shall be no j war.”—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. | THE PEACE CELEBRATIONS. j ON AUGUST 3 AND 4. ' LONDON, May 17. The peace celebrations on August 3 will include national services of thanksgiving in Trafalgar Square, Westminster Abbey, and St. Paul’s. Every church in the Empire will offer up special prayers. On the 4th there will be a chain of bonfires from end to end of Britain, including 30,000 war flares, visible for many miles and lasting ten minutes. On the sth there will be military and naval pageants and a merchant shipping pageant on the Thames.—Times Service. LONDON POLICE STRIKE. GOVERNMENT ACCEPTS CHALLENGE. LQNDON, May 29.* The police dispute is becoming critical. It is declared in responsible quarters that a strike is practically inevitable. If it occurs it will affect the j largo provincial centres in addition to ; Loudon. A decision is probable within i a week. The authorities are taking every ■ precaution to meet the situation. —Aus.- i N.Z. Cable Assn. (Received May 31, 10.45 a.m.) LONDON, May 30. Cabinet has sanctioned the Police Commissioner’s order warning the police again that strikers will be instantly dismissed and never permitted to rejoin the forces. The pensions plea will not be accepted as an excuse. Officers and men are instructed to defend themselves if necessary by all legitimate .means in the execution of their duty.—Aus.-r>.Z. i Cable Assn. THE DISCUSSION ABOUT SHELLS. (Received May 31, 9.50 a.m.) LONDON, May 19. Lord French declines to discuss the shell dispute, referred to by Mr. Asquith, but denies Lord Kitchener’s version of the position in April, 1915.—-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. SIR ERIC GEDDES. ON BUILDING OF DESTROYERS. (Received May 31, 12.35 p.m.) LONDON, May 19Sir Eric Geddes, in the House of | Commons, warmly defended the policy | of building destroyers at the expense of J mercautment; otherwise the sea, so far i as merchantmen were concerned, would j have been our weakest front and would ; have necessitated withdrawing men from the army. The Government’s action enabled the transport of American troops. Submarine sinkings created one of the graves situations of the war. The Government did the light tiling in establishing national shipyards. It would have been guilty of criminal neglect if it had not made every effort to supply ships.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.