OUR MINISTERS AT HOME

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2921, 6 November 1916, Page 5

OUR MINISTERS AT HOME

AFTER A VISIT TO FRANCE Australian-New Zealand Cable Association. (Rec. November 5, 11 p.m.) London, November 5. 1 Mr. Massey and Sir Joseph Ward have returned to London. Mr. Massey, in a statement to an Australian Press Association representative, said: "We have spent a frill week in Franca looking into the conditions as they exist' at the front, and more particularly in regard to the New Zealand troops. The New Zealanders are in good heart, and cheerfully confident, but the weather and the_ approach of winter make it almost impossible to continue operations on a. large scale at present. There is naturally a great deal of discomfort, but everything is being done to render the winter quarters as comfortable as possible. During our visit we had an opportunity _of conferring with Sir Douglas Haig and others of the General Staff. Whilst matters aro going very well _no one whose opinion is worth having even suggests the possibility of tlio war ending for a considerable. time." EXCHANGE OF PRISONERS ANGLO-GERMAN AGREEMENT (Auefc.—Tf.Z. Cable Assn. and Router.) London, November 3. A White Book in reference to the exchange of British and Gorman civilians over 45 shows that the agreement applies to the whole Empire. Germany stipulated that Germans from British oolonies and Dominions should be repatriated at the utmost speed possible. Tic tired from tlio Army and Navy not receiving pay, and officers and crews of British and German merchantmen aro to bo considered civilians. CALLED TO THE COLOURS COMBING OUT THE. DEPARTMENTS Australian-New Zealand Oahle Association. London, November 3. _ Mr. Lloyd George has combed out civilian's under twenty-six in the War Office and subsidiary Departments who are fit for general service, leaving 171 - fit men out of a istaff of 7200, inclusive of women. There will bo a similar comb-out of non-commissioned military employees. As innnv.as possible of commissioned men will he released. OBSERVATION BALLOON AFIRE GREW BURNED TO DEATH.' AuslT.ilian.Now Zealand Cnhlp Association. ' (Rcc. November 5, f>.s p.m.) Amsterdam,' November 3. An observation balloon a lire came dowir'in Norway. It is believed to have belonged: to a British warship patrolling the North Sea. The crew was turned to death,