WAR NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 January 1917, Page 1

WAR NEWS.

Per Press Association. —Copyright. Internal Germany. 1 Man Usage(Australia & N.Z. Cable Association)

AMSTERDAM, Jan. 16. The Kaiser had ordered General von Steen to organise all boys in Germany to fit them for war service. Schoolboys are compelled to attend military drill daily and to take part in long night marches. The order practically amounts to compulsory war athleticism with the object of training every German hoy to be a soldier in the shortest, possible time. AMSTERDAM, Jan. 16. The German Hebrew Defence umu« publishes what it describes as a scandalous order, compelling Jewish members in an artillery regiment, and now employed as secretaries and orderlies, to go to the front immediately. The Union declares that the Prussian Army system is sending many Jews who are unfit for service to' the front trenches as part of an antiSemetic policy. . Appeals to the Kaiser have been fruitless, g

Beer StampsCONDON, Jan. 16. The “Daily Telegraph’s” ltottordam correspondent says that beer stamps to secure equal distribution have been i'ntituted in Bavaria. No beer is sold in Munich after 8 o’clock in the evening.

The authorities aro anxious at the popular unrest in the mining and agricultural districts following on a reduction of the potato ration to three pounds.

BRITAIN’S LOftN.

Big Subscriptions (Australian & N 7.. Cable Association). LONDON, Jan. 16. ' The City Corporation has decided to subscribe £2,000,000 of new money to the war loan.

The Refuge Assurance Company have subscribed £2,125,000, the Liverpool, Victoria, Legal and Friendly Companies £1,000,000 each. Many persons holding policies in the United States life assurance offices are borrowing the surrender value at five per cent interest and investing the proceeds in the war loan.

Danish Energy.COPENHAGEN, Jan. 16. The Danish authorities are displaying great energy Jn punishing breaches of illegal trade with Germany. A merchant for exporting 290 casks ©f train oil was fined 253,000 kroner, - and two assistants were fined 8,000 and 24,8000 kroner respectively.

Spain’s Crisis. MADRID, Jan. 16. The origin of the Senor Romanones crisis is now revealed. / The German Ambassador at Madrid sent a wireless to Berlin last August fin more money for newspaper propaganda to secure the fall of Premier Romanones. France picked up the message at Eiffel Tower wireless station and it was revealed to Romanones lie tendered his resignation, receiving the support of Senors Maura and Dato, leading Conservatives. The King promptly restored Besor Romanones.

N Z’s Part. (Australia & N.Z. Cable Assort ition) LONDON. Jan. 16. Sir Joseph Ward, speaking at the opening of a Club at Brokcnhurst in connection with the New Zealad Hospital, said the people of New Zealaim would fully endorse the Allies’ dieeision in refusing a premature peace; it must bo permanent and handed down to future generations. We are nyt going to release our hold after all our sacrifices.

Mr Massey said lie considered the forthcoming Imperial Conference the most important thing in the Empire”s history. A premature peace was not the idea that had brought British citizens from Oversea to fight the Germans; it was their idea to fight to the bitter end for a lasting peace.

Potato Price?.

LONDON, Jan. 16. There is increasing agitation in England against the fixed price of potatoes by growers of the unprofitable plant. Mr Alden, a member of the House of Commons, has been appointed to organise public and private effort at land cultivation,

The Board of Trade figures show the return of prices on January Ist to bo eighty-seven per coni over pre-war prices, compared with Germany’s one hundred and eleven, Austria’s one hundred and seventy-seven, and Norway’s eight-two per cent. The principal English increases aro potatoes, fish, flour, butter and cheese. Cultivation. LONDON. Jan. 16. The Board of Agriculture reports an increase of 20,984 acres cultivated in England and Wales in 1916, compared with 1915. The wheat area declined 12 per cent, while barley increased 8 per cent potatoes declined by 35,451 acres or 101 por cent. LONDON, Jan. 17. It is understood that tho Government is taking over all rabbits afloat. Jt is believed they will use the best for rations and hospitals, and will allow tho rest to he sold through the usual channels. - -j. ; &

THE GREEK FOSITiGN

Falkenhayn in Thessaly.

(Australian & N.Z. Cable Aseooia ion and Renter), LONDON, Jan. 16. Mr Ward Price confirms the report that General Falkenhayn is at Thessaly and that Greeks troops are moving northwards. LONDON, Jan. 16. Mr Ward Price reports from Salonika that General Falkenliayn’s appearance at Thessaly lias disillusioned those believing tho word of tho Athens’ Government. French headquarters learn that Gen eral Falkenhayn is now at Elasiona, northward of Larissa, The Greek troops which King Constantino threatened to withdraw to‘wards Peloponnesus are now moving northwards, violating tho neutral zone at Kkaterina where the Franco-Brit-isli are keeping peace between King Constantine’s and the Provincial Governments. General Falkenhayn reached Thessaly either by submarine or aeroplane. It is evident that Constantine has been playing for time for tho past six weeks till the moment for Greek and German combined action has arrived.

Italian Report. - LONDON, Jan. 10. An Italian communique says: The enemy exploded a large mine under our position on the southern slopes of Mount Piccololagaznoi. Owing to counter-mining a tremendous explosion resulted, which did not affect our troops, but the collapse of tho gallery caused the enemy heavy casualties.

Roumanian Resistance.

. LONDON, Jan. 16. Berlin reports that Iloumania lias received large supplies of artillery and munitions, hence her present resistance. Switzerland. LONDON, Jan. 16. Colonel Feylon, writing in the “Paris Journal” says: It would not be an advantage to Germany to invade Switzerland. He points out that a junction between 'the Italians ; English, ajrid French could be effected through the Rhone valley and Simplon pass, and the Germans would bo forced to operate on andmmense new front, not to speak-of the opposition of a. quarter of a million Swiss troops, whom it would be necessary to overwhelm in a few days. Even' if this was accomplished there would bo fresh battles in the Alpine defiles, leading to the Lombardy plain, or the eastern French plateau.

Fhe Popa. ROME, Jan. 16. The Pope, more as a religious than as a political act, is preparing a Note to belligerents which is addressed to the peoples rather than the leaders. China’s Reply. , , LONDON Jan. 16 With a view to cheering up Berlin by the adhesion of another neutral to President Wilson’s Note, Count Bcrnstorff wirelessed to Germany the text of China’s reply, which ventures to declare that the war will probably affect China’s interests more seriously than other neutrals. China'is prepared after tho war to join in assuring respect for the principle of the equality of nations and thus relieve them of the perils of wrong and violence.

Sinkings. LONDON, Jan. 16. The Norwegian vessel Bradfield was mined and eight lost. LONDON, Jan. 16. Tha British steamers Briokwood and Martin, and the Swedish Norway hare been sunk. Thirteen of the Brookwood’s crew aro missing.

Irish Question. LONDON, Jan. 17. The “Central News” says that certain members of the Government and responsible Nationalist and Ulster parliamentarians have been continuing informal discussions with a view to an Irish settlement.

Several schemes wore abandoned owing to the suspicion and tension pro. vailing in Ireland, hut the latest conversation resulted in a marked advance towards an agreement.

A proposal to submit the matter to the coming Imperial Conference was rejected owing to the Ulster members pointing out that the Conference essentially was a War Conference, hut it is understood both parties are in agreement that yister bo granted temporary exclusion from the general scheme of Home Rule on condition that Ulster accepts the decision of the post-war Imperial Conference. French ReportLondon, Jan. ig. A French communique says: —The artillery struggle has continued fairly, briskly on the Somme, on the northeastern front at Vcdun and in Lorraine. We made a successful coup do main on enemy trenches east of Viscurais. Haig’s ReportS LONDON. Jan. 17'. .Sir Douglas Haig reports that this evenings attempted raid north-east or Gueudocourt was repulsed. There lias been active mutual artulerying.

A Conference. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assoei ■ tion and Renter.)

LONDON, Jan. 11. The Press Bureau reports that Hr Lloyd George and his colleagues in the War Cabinet held a series of important conferences with General Neville (French), and Sir Douglas Haig on Monday and Tuesday.

A Protest. STOCKHOLM, Jan. 16. Prominent Swedes, including politicinnss scientists, and artists, have published a protest, declaring the deportations to be a violation of international law.