THE WAR.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12243, 15 February 1918, Page 2

THE WAR.

OVERNIGHT CABLES.

LONDON, February 13. Several hostile amendments proposed in, the House of Commons include one by Mr R. D. Holt regretting that according to the Versailles decisions the Government’s only immediate task is the prosecution of military effort.

LONDON, February 13. Mr Holt’s amendment expressed regret that “by the; decision of the Versailles War Council the only immediate task of the Government is the prosecution of

.---military effort.” He asked why the council deprecated the attempt to detach Austria from the Central Alliance ? Mr Balfour in reply dissented from such a doctrine, and added that if it were possible to break up the enemy coalition nobody would rejoice more than himself. The Versailles Council was faced by von Hertling’s and Count Czernin’s speeches, and saw in them no attempt to approach the Entente standpoint. It was obvious that Count Czernin refused Mr Wilson’s terms. The Kaiser’s and von Hkrtling’s speeches proved that they were as far now ns they were three years ago from accepting Mr Wilson's ideals, which were common to the whole Entente. Tlie diplomatic weapon was, therefore, useless.

LONDON, February 13. The “Daily Mail” says that the Government endeavoured to induce General Sir William Robertson to resign. General Robertson considers it his duty to remain at his post unless removed. The Government is considering whether to insist on his resignation.

LONDON, February li). A French communique says:—There was considerable artillery activity in the region of Pinon and north-west of Rheims. AVe carried out successful raids east of Auborive, and in the Vosges. Enemy aircraft dropped bombs on Nancy. Three civilians were killed and five were injured.

LONDON, February 13. Air Hamilton Fyfe, iho “ Daily Mail” correspondent at British headquarters, says that the German preparations for an early offensive include the training of picked troops seventy or eighty miles behind the front over areas resembling the coming battlefield. They are employing new light machine-guns, with a quarter of an inch bore, and firing 400 shots a minute.

AMSTERDAM, February 13. .Von Kuhlmann and von Hertling are visiting the army headquarters to consult with the Kaiser concerning the result of the negotiations at Brest Litovsk. Germany' is aflame with renewed war fever, which is affectum all classes. As a result of extravagant"l’resp jubilation over the Brest Litovsk negotiations there is a growing demand everywhere that the Government shall insist on heavy indemnities from the Allies, especially Britain. The Germans are content if the Ukraine makes payment in foodstuffs and materials, but the Allies, they insist, must pay in cash to relievo immediately the critical financial position.

AMSTERDAM, February 13. It is semi-officially reported' from Germany that von Mackensen is negotiating with the Rumanian army command for a continuation of the armistice at the front.

AMSTERDAM, February 13. A wireless message says that it is understood that the Central Powers' nave accepted as a basis for peace negotiations with Rumania, Bulgaria’s suggestion that Bulgaria shall "retain the Dobrudja, while Bessarabia shall revert to Rumania,

T1 Q MADRID, February 13. the Spanish steamer Ceferino, laden with salt for a British colony and general cargo for . Manila, was torpedoed m the neighbourhood of the Canary Islands.

LONDON, February 13.' In tho House ot Commons Mr Bonar Law stated that last year 820,000 men wei-G added to the British Armv / 30,000 men and 800,000 women were placed in employment, 850,000 tons of cereals and 3,000,000 tons of potatoes were added to the country’s production an additional 1,000,000 acres were ploughed last year and 1,200,000 more acres were, already ploughed this year.' the wheat stocks in the United Kingdom in December exceeded those of the previous December by 2,000,000 quarters.

MELBOURNE, February 14. Tho Commonwealth Statistician disagrees with the widely held belief that boy babies preponderate during war time. _ The Statistician states that his nvestigations show that thero is not tho slightest sign or any increase in masculinity as a result of t-h e war.