FATE OF GERMAN FLEET

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 134, 1 March 1919, Page 7

FATE OF GERMAN FLEET

BRITAIN FAVOURS SCUTTLING

FRENCH OPPOSITION

NO MORE U-BOAT WARFARE

By Telegraph'—Press Association— Copyright

Paris, February 27. ' Semi-official.—Tho British Government is in favour of (lie German battleships at Scapa Flow being sunk. The other Allies oppose the idea.

M. Leygnes,- French Minister of Marine, lias informed the Navy Commission that Frenco has been unable to replace the war losses of the Navy owing to the dockyards and arsenals being fully employed in building submarine?, repairing warships, and ' turning out war . material for the Allies. Other navies haye occupied a more advantageous position. The restoration of the strength of-the French Navy requires the surrender to Franco of part of the naval tonnage of the enemy fleets.—Aus.-N.Z., Cable Assn. - "INCONCEIVABLE FOLLY." (Rec. February 28, 7.55 p.m.) Paris, February 27. "Le Journal" denies the report that the German Fleet is to be sunk. M. Leygues declares that it would bo inconceivable folly, at a timo when metal and machinery are scarce, that thousands of tons should be destroyed. France will certainly claim an important part of the fleet: It is believed that the matter; will form a definite part of tho armistice conditions.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ■ ,; QUESTION IN THEHOUSE OF LORDS London, February 26. . Speaking in . the House of Lords, Lord Islington drew attention to tho roport that the Paris Conference contemplated' sinking tho German Fleet. He suggested that the'fullest-testa should bo made to .find whether, the ships could bo utilised commercially. .Lord Lytton xeplied that the question was a matter for all tho Allies; but tho British Government strongly felt that the ships should not be added to any existing fleet. It was questionable whether it. would bo economical to scrap tlio ships. Personally, ho thought that the ppint would be best tested by offering the ships at auction.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. '

SCRAPPING THE U-BOATS. London, Fobruary 27. "The "Pall Mall Gazette" states that tile Governments of Great Britain and the United Sttites have decided- to opposs entirely the ne'e of submarines lnifuture warfare. Accordingly they will not ' recede- from, the proposal to scrap the Gorman submarines. They are nlso in favour of 'the destruction of the la'rgor German ships, but will probably compromise on this matter, os the other Allies. headed by France, strongly oppose tha wastage. The opinion in French Naval circles is that the French should have a largo share of the German ships, »3 France was unablo to build during the war.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. BLOCKADE OF GERMANY WILL BE RAISED "WHEN PEACE IS SIGNED. London, February 27. Mr. Lloyd George has announced that the blockade will not be raised' until Germany has signed a peaco that will moke future wars impossible.—Aus.-N.Z. - Cable Assn. : THEBELGIANATROCITIES , INSISTENT DEMAND FOR PUNISHMENT. Paris,! February 26. The "Matin's" Brussels correspondent states that the Belgian Premier, speaking in the Senate, said that the nation would insist" on the punishment of those responsible for the atrocities perpetrated by the enemy ,in Belgium, He is confident that the Peace Conference, to which all the available evidence has been transmitted, would see that justice was done.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assm ALLIES AMUIRALS : DISCUSSION ON COMMERCIAL .. POLICY, Paris, February 27. The .Peace ..Conference discussed . the commercial policy to be adopted between the Allies and the. neutral nations, and decided to appoint; an Economic Comiiiission to examine the various problems involved, including-the commercial eq.ualitr of all' nations,, the examination of Customs and navigation questions, and especially to find a way to prevent disloyal methods of competition. The Commission will also, examine the questions of pre-war contracts arid of economic international agreements which ought to be maintained or abrogated—AU6.-N.Z. Cable Assn.} THE ATTEMPT TOKILT M. CLEMENCGAU PATIENT MAKING GOOD PROGRESS. V \ Paris, February 26. Mr, A'.' J. Balfour and M. I'ichon con-fered-with M. Clemonceau on the diplomatic situation, and found him tetter than the.y expected. ■ They ' expressed amazement at his vitality.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. . AN ANARCHIST ROUND-UP. London," February 27. Following on the attempt of the 'life of M. Clemencepu, the police inade numerous visits to the houses of militant Communists ■ and Anarchists. They arrested Emile Content, manager of the weekly paper . "Libertaire."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. THE POLISH GOVERNMENT .. Paris, February-27. The Powers have decided to recognise M. Padereweki's Polish Government.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. THE OCCUPIED TERRITORIES ELECTION OF COMMUNAL COUNCILS FORBIDDEN. (Rec. February 28, 7.55 p.m.) Paris, February 27. 'The German Government, haying ordered, the dissolution of tjio Communal Councils and their re-election on a popular vote, and as this is calculated to cause great changes in tho administration of tho. occupied territories, the Belgian military authorities have demanded tho maintenance of tho existing organisations. Marshal Focii shares the Belgian view, and therefore has forbidden tl'f elections.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. TERRITORIAL QUESTIONS (Rec. (Starch 1, 0.20 a.m.) London, Fobruary 27. Tho Press Bureau's Paris communique states that tho Ministers of tho Groat 1 Powers have docided to organiso a Central Commission for territorial questions. They aftorwards heard tho Zionist representatives. Tho Labour Legislation Commission agreed to tho clauses of 111Q British wheuw liiviii/f down qualifications for colony adhesion to tho International Labour Convention.—Aus.-N.Z, Cuble Assn.

With tho exception of mio or two of the Balkan Stales Itussin. is tho most illiterate country-in Europe, ovur fid per cent, of tho inhabitants beilig nimble lo rem] or write. (Tho cable iibwb in thin Isbuo accredited to th» London "Times" haa anpeared in that journal, but only whore expressly, stated iB such news tho cfitorial opinion of the !/Tlme>.") -j