EUROPE.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLI, Issue 8, 19 August 1908, Page 6

EUROPE.

The Vulcan Shipbuilding and Engineering Co.’s rivetters, who went out on strike last week, have decided by an overwhelming majority to resume work. Russian Navy Remoralised. Prince Alexander Lieven, one of the most celebrated officers of the Russian navy, has published a pamphlet alleging that the navy is destitute of discipline and esprit de corps, and that the crews and not the officer's are the real, commanders., Political Reforms Under Turkish Rule. Remarkable scenes have been witnessed at Beyrout, wiigre Christians and Moslems are jointly celebrating the new regime with frequent reiterations of the sentiment of the brotherhood of Moslems an.l Christians, who will henceforward live together in peace. Pure Liquor. Drastic regulations have been issued in Franc,; against the adulteration of beer, wines and liqueurs with fruit juices. No cognac may be sold as such, except from Charente, no champagne so named except from the Champagne region, and no sparkling, wines may be sold where the effervescence is not solely due to alcoholic fermentation.

To felicitate the Kaiser. German newspapers state that their Majesties King Edward and Queen Alexandra will make a State visit to Berlin on the occasion of the Kaiser’s fiftieth birthday. Official “ Pickings.” , Riza Pasha, ex-Mi’iister for War and Zihni Pasha, ex-Minister for Foreign Affairs, who were recently arrested on charges of. misappropriation, have .been liberated on agreeing to refund £20,000 and £6OOO respectively, these sums being wrongly acquired during their tenure of office. To Find the South Pole. Dr. Charcot's Antarctic Expedition proceeds first to Terre Loubet and Alexander I. Land, and then south-west, in order to fix the Southern limits of the Eastern Pacific, and finally tries to join the British expedition under Lieutenant Shackleton. The party expect to be absent for about two years. Dr. Charcot's expedition has sailed fro:?: Havre for the Antarctic. King and Kaiser. The King and Kaiser met on August 1 1 at Kronberg. Though the German newspapers are friendly, some declare that England greatly errs if she expects that the conference will lead Germany to restrict her navy. King Edward VII. in Europe. The Emperor Francis Josef of Austria and King Edward met at Isc-hl on August 12th. Both monarchs received enthusiastic ovations from the crowds in the.streets.

Purity of French Wines. The French Agricultural Department is considering a proposal for the introduction of a Government label as a guarantee of the authenticity of wines at ® cost to the producer of a penny a which would yield annually a revenue of about £146,000. Reforms in Turkey. The Turkish Ministers arc abolishing sinecures, suppressing subventions to foreign newpapers, and reducing the pay of higher officials,- which is more than Ministers of any other State receive. 1 Dorando’s Welcome. Dorando, the Italian competitor who finished first in the Marathon race at the Olympic games, but was disqualified owing to his being- assisted to his feet by several of his compatriots, received a great ovation on his return to Turin, being almost smothered by embraces and kisses. Germany to be Economical, The ‘‘Frankfurter Zeitung” ’ urges the reduction or restriction of naval armaments, especially" oh the part of Germany an-1 Britain. The “Zeitung” makes the admission that Germany's financial position imperatively demands the adeption of such a course. The, Turkish troops at Smyrna have released all criminals. ‘ after ryarning them that they would be promptly hanged if they committed fresh crimes. By order of the Union of Progress, General Tewfik and other prominent officers aceitseil of treason have been publicly degraded at Smyrna. The Young Turkish party is- finding great difficulty in restraining the antagonists off the Greeks'' and ' Bulgarians at Monastic ' - ■ J

Mr. I<l»7d-Ge«rge a* * Diplomat. : , c Mr. Lloyd-George (Chancellor of the Exchequer), in an jnterview at Uarlsbad, 'Austria, where he is spending a short holiday, discussed the prospects of an Entente with Germany. “The Times” refers to the rumour of Mr. I/loyd George’s intention to visit •Berlin and the residence of Admiral von Tirpitz (German Secretary of State for the Admiralty) at Black Forest. The “Spectator” protests against the jgrowing tendency of Ministers to deal in public with matters outside of their departments.