CAMPAIGN INCIDENTS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2335, 17 December 1914, Page 5

CAMPAIGN INCIDENTS

THE CAPTURE OF VERMELLES Paris, December 16. The Germans at Vennelles (near La Bassoe) collected women and children in a school in which they had placed machine guns. The Frenon commander was in a dilemma. He had been ordered to assault tho village, but feared to injure the children in the schoolyard. Fortunately the attackers noticed a deaf mute conversing with the children on his fingers, and a soldier was able to attract tho muto's attention.. Speakingon his fingers, the soldier direoted the mute to push tho children under cover. Meanwhile, ten sharpshooters picked oft the German machine gunners, and a few minutes later Vermelles was taken with the bayonet. ' ;-. SMART WORK BY FRENCH AIRMAN. GERMAN TRAIN FIRED. . . . Paris, December, 15. A French aviator ignited a German train at Pangy-sur-Moselle. Another aviator saw Germans trying, submarines in the Bruges Canal. AIRMEN BLOWN TO.SEAi. London, December ,18. Three aviators lost their ,way Lα a mist, and were.blown One reached Holland; the otheft were picked up at sea. A destroyer has since salved the aeroplane. ■ •.-■.■'. NOTES IN BRIEF. GERMAN "KULTUR" IN-THE BATTLEFIELD, i " ' M union, December 15. The newspaper "NeusteTtfachriohten" publishes a letter from "a~ Lieutenant Eberlein, in which' he boasts that he placed three civilians in front of the German advance at St. Die (in the Vosges) and that French bullets killed the civilians. ' .::..-. .' PRUSSIAN HATRED OF ENGLISH. London, December 15. An escapee from the German camp at Wesel, Prussia, reports that special favours _ are granted to the French and Belgian prisoners, while the British are given most menial duties, and are also ill-treated. Tho Germans make signs as of cutting their throats, and endeav-. our to teach the French and Belgians', to say, "God punish England I The English are swine!"—("Times"- and Sydney "Sun" Services.) GERMAN SPY SYSTEM BREAKS DOWN. London, December 16. The growing frequency of the German aeroplane flights indicate that the spy system has broken down in consequence of a special French effort.—("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.) PALMEESTON DOCTOR MENTIONED ' IN DISPATCHES. Palmerston N., December 16. Word has been received that Dr. Martin, a well-known local surgeon now serving at the front, has been mentioned in dispatches for gallant services to the wounded while undor shell fire. INVALIDED HOME OFFICERS AND MEN FROM OUR TROOPSHIPS. (Rco. December 16, 10.20 p.m.) Sydney, December 16. The Maloja's passengers include two officers and ten men of the 'Australian and New Zealand Contingents, who left the troopships owing to various sicknesses. SOUTH AFRICAN REBELLION ONLY ONE LEADER NOW. AT ' ' .; LARGE. Pretoria, December 15. There have been further captures of isolated bands of rebels. Conroy is the only important rebel still at large in Orangia. BRITAIN'S CALL TO ARMS RESPONSE AN EXAMPLE TO. THE I WORLD. ■ London, December 15. Mt, Bonar Law (Leader ot the Unionist Party), at a Unionist meeting in London, Bald:' "Never in tKe world's history has an army suck as we. required enlisted voluntarily. The system failed in the American Civil War, but it has not failed' hero: we are sure to get all the men needed." GERMAN CITIZENSHIP IN -~. . AMERICA ■■ INTERNATIONAL ASPECT. New York, December 15. Apropos of the Ahlers case, American jurists aro discussing the international aspect of Gorman citizenship. A law was enacted in lt)14 enabling Germans acquiring foreign citizenship to retain German citizenship''if they obtained permission. It ateo enables foreign citizens of German blood to obtain German , citizenship while they remain abroad. . A. Ahlers, late German Consul af Sunderland, England, has been sentenced to death on a charge of high treason. Ho was indicted under a statute of Edward 111, dealing with the levying of war against the-King, v '.He,..was naturalised in 1905. ' NEW PORTUGAL CABINET WILL SUPPORT THE.BEITISH -. ALLIANCE. London, December 15. The new Portugueso Ministry nre all Democrats, the paity leaders havi.ne failed to form a national Cabinet. new Government, whose duration of /office is problematical, will continue to support the alliance with Britain.— ("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.) MINES IN SWEDISH WATERS INVESTIGATION' IN PROGRESS. London, December 15. An investigation regarding the mines sown in Swedish waters is being made. The Germans and Russians both deny ownership. The mines .are laid in three layers, and when the top mine has exploded a lower mine automatically replaces it.—("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.) • THE MEETING OF KINGS. Christiania, December 15. The chief object of the Maliuo meeting —a conference of •the Kings of Sweden, Denmark, and Norway, convened at tho instance ,of the King of Sweden — is to discuss the question of neutrality and of repression ol contraband, and possibly Germany's confiscation of neutral 'ships and tho. mining of tho Baltic. MISCELLANEOUS SERVICEABLE ANTIPATHY TO/' GERMANY. (Rec. December 16, o.'iO p.m.) London, December 16. American opinions are overwhelming-. Ux.*s,vflurabU to thq AJJios./ Seme opjr.

jnunitiea in the West may not feel posl | tive sympathy towards Britain an< ; France,: but they entertain a 6erviooj able antipathy to Germany^—("Times') .1 and Sydney, "Sun" Services.) \ VOLUNTEER HOSPITALS AT-THE ' FRONT. ' I (Reo. December 16/9.10 p.m.). ' j London, December 16. ;.< 1 The War Office announce that no fuH ' ther volunteer hospitals whatever will " j be required at present for the British -...-! expeditionary forces in France. Any, '; voluntary hospitals now on the Contin- : ent or hereafter proceeding thither must! "] •work as base hospitals, and.not attempt', i to proceed further. .:.... .- ~-„:; : THE CHRISTMAS TEUOE V | PROPOSAL. "j (Rec. December 17, 1.5 ajnj '-~- ' j London; December. 16; K \ The German journal "Kolnische Zew i tung" states that France, equally 'wittf, '•■ | Russia, rejected tho Pope's , ■ truce proposal. ... ; , .... . : . ' * ■■*; / UNITED STATES FINANCE.. J \ (Rec. December 17, 1.20 a.m.) ■■;• \ J Washington, DeceniDer ie. / ! The financial conditions.of-fche'Unitedv j States is approaching normal. Money,' ; is oheap and bank reserves are abun-' 1 : dant. " '■" ■' .■"■■*■-• i CHRISTMAS MAILS: FOR THE"' ' ' l front. .: ,>.., ; London, December 15. V 1 Three hundred clerks and sorters ihavai j been sent to France to assist with th© 1 .--i Christmas mails! There has been af | stream of parcels to the front for sere , ' ■"! eral weeks, and it is growing enoiw? mously. , ;■ ■