MUNITIONS FOR THE FRONT

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2535, 9 August 1915, Page 5

MUNITIONS FOR THE FRONT

MORE MACHINE-GUNS FOR THE AUSTRALIANS QUESTION OP LOCAL MANUFACTURE By Telegraph—Press Association-Copyright Melbourne, August 7. In the Federal Senate, Senator Pearcc, iii reply to a question, said that ilie supplying of moro machino guns to 'Australian troops was being considered. The difficulty was that all t'lio English and American factories were working at the highest pressure for tho Allies. The Munitions Committco is considering local manufacture. , (Roc. August 8, 4 p.m.) Melbourne, August 8. The Federal Defence Minister (Senator Ijearce) is forming an Industrial Corps, aud advertising throughout the Commonwealth for skilled mechanics to enrol for tho manufacture of munitions and equipment, They will not be allowed to enlist for activo service. METAL SUPPLIES COMMANDEERED Melbourne, August 7. The Minister, on behalf of the Imperial Government-, has requisitioned all supplies of molydenite, _wolfra.ni, and scheolite, wliich are of vital importance for. war purposes. The British authorities have fixed the price at 555. per unit for wolfram, and JOos. for molydenite. ZINC CONCENTRATES. ■ ■ • Melbourne, August 7. The 'Attorney-General (the Hon. W. 'M. Hughes) lias conferred with a representative of the Amalgamated Zinc Corporation with a viow to extending smelting operations, so that Australia will bo able to deal with all its own concentrates, and to . establish the subsidiary industries.FEDERAL' METAL EXCHANGE. TO DESTROY GERMAN CONTROL. (Rec. August 8, 4 ■ p.m.) , Melbourne, August 8. The Federal Attorney-General (Mr. Wm. Hughes) will establish in Melbourne on September. 3 a- Govoniment •Metal Exchange to control the output and destroy tho German control. I SOUTH AFRICAN MECHANICS' CONTINGENT. ■FIRST BATCH LEAVES FOR ENGLAND. , Johannesburg, August 6. The first contingent of volunteer munition workers have started for England. The publio enthusiastically farecelled the men. (Rec. 'August 8, 3.10 p.m.) Cape Town, August 7. A movement which lias been started to purchase machine-guns for tho contingent is spreading with enthusiasm. One hundred and forty were subscribed in five days. 'Ilie Rand miners, including the natives, are. subscribing freely. A' women's meeting on the Rand donated sis machine-guns. iTHE RUSSIAN MINISTRY OF MUNITIONS, - DICTATORIAL POWERS OF THE AVAR. OFFICE. (Rec. August 8, 4 p.m.) Petrograd, August 7. Though the Constitutional Democrats demand that the new Munitions Ministry should be conducted on tho English lines.' the Government opposes the demand on the ground of technical difficulties. Probably a- compromise will be reached by establishing it as a separate Department of the War Office, which has now: almost dictatorial powers. A SLANDER EXPOSED 'ATTACKS ON PRINCE LOUIS OF BATTENBURG. J3y Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Rec.. August 8, 3 p.m. London, August 7. 'Apropos of the renewed statements that Prince Louis of Battenburg (who was First Sea Lord of the Admiralty 'at the outbreak of war, but retired shortly after a noisy agitation against his retention on account of his German origin), was responsible for an order to < the Fleet to ''stand fast" in tho critical ■ hour's of & year ago, Sir G. Scott Robertson, M.P., states that lie has Prince Louis's authority for saying that Mr. Churchill was absent atthe week-end, at Cromer, and jeft His Highness, in whom ho had implicit confidence, with the fullest powers to deal with any emergency. The Prince, by virtuo of this authority, issued the famous order when Hie decisivo moment arrived. AN INSIDE .PICTURE OP GERMANY SHORTAGE AND DISTRESS. "By Telegraph—Press Association-Copyright (Rec. 'August 8. 3 p.m.) Berne, August 8. A German merchant, in a letter to a friend in Switzerland, says that the Gorman manufacturers aro short of nickel, copper, zino, manganese, tin, mineral, and vegetable oils, cotton, wool, jute, and leather. There Is distress amongst_ the North-west Coast population, owing to tho shipping stoppage. These include over a million dependent upon the North German, Lloyd and Haniburg-Amerika Steam Ship linos, tho docks, and the fishing industry. . THE RUSSIAN SOLDIER 'A BATTLEFRONT IMPRESSION, ?By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Rec. August 8, 3 p.m.) London, August 7. Professor Bernard Pares (Professor of Russian History at Liverpool University) has returned to London. He considers that the Germans are absolutely inferior in morale and strategy. Ho was deeply impressed by tho Russian soldiers' courage, faith, and oi&durance. Russia was at her splendid best in this war. Though Professor Pares went anywhere ho lilted oloug tho Russian front, ho saw nothing bestial or brutal. The Russians fought almost too humanely, and their kindness to prisoners were down German sulkiness. The men aro extraordinarily gentle *nd unselfish to each other, hove wonderful courage, and show r. passionate 'devotion to their officers. Tho German troops are brutal and 1 arrogant, and often drunk. There was probably not one single case of drunkenness along the whole Russian line. ABUSES OF WARFARE 'AUSTRIAN TREACHERY. jßy Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Rec. August !), 0.5 a.m.) Petrograd,-August 7. Th'o Commission which is investigating tho abuses of warfare records that an Austrian Red Cross party approached the Russian trendies, ostensibly to tend the wounded. They suddenly opened firo on the Russians, who retaliated, killing a supposed Sister of Mercy, who was found to be au Austrian officer disguised^