THE WAR LOAN

Hokitika Guardian, 28 February 1917, Page 1

THE WAR LOAN

A Huge Amount

(Australian & N.Z. Cable Association i and Reutir) LONDON, Feb. 26. Mr Bonar Law said that since ms last statement about the War Loan, over two hundred thousand applications, previously not examined, baa been totalled, and the result was above what even a week ago lie would nut have considered possible. The total is now £1,000,312,950. New money included applications from the Bank of England for £819,686,000; converted treasury bills £130,711,960; Post Office £30,716,000; War Savings Certificates £19,300,000. • Begarding the conversion of treasury bills be pointed out that tile average period thereof was four months. lie thought it right to consider tno State's freedom therefrom as equivalent to new money. , z In addition to the thousand million, the Treasury received £196,000 from 87 individuals, free of interest; also £64,000 from .44 individuals as .gifts. The number of subscribers for the 1016 loan was 1,100,000 equally divided between! the Post Office and the banks. There are 8,000,000 applications for this loan, including 1,089,000 through the Post Office and 5.600,000 certificates sold representing 2,800,000 suuseribers. Though Germany’s population is fifty per cent greater than .Britain’s the subscribers to the last German loan were only 3,810,000. The great bulk of the earlier British loans had been converted. Also £233,000,0.00 of Exchequer bonds. The floating debt is now £994,Q00,000 as compared with £1,652,000,000 wnen the loan was floated. Gifts of jewels by ladies and otneis were returned, and lie paid a tribute to the patriotism of such offers.

The Death Foil.

LONDON, Feb. 26, In view of the recent persistent rumour that the official death roll of the London munitions explosion is inaccurate the Coroner reiterated that the actual number of deaths was 74, which exactly corresponds with tile Government’s figures previously announced. The Coroner pointed out the remarkable lowness if the mortality in view ot the large quantity of wrecking": viz., eight hundred homos, with a population of over two thousand.

Bread Sales.

(Australia & N.Z. Cable Association) LONDON, Feb. 26. The Press Bureau announces: Lord Devonport, the Food Controller, notifies that bread must be sold in loaves of one pound or in even numbers ot pounds, and must be twelve hours oid, and not to be exchanged for old bread previously sold. It must not contain currants, sultana raisins, milk or sugar. Inspectors are authorised to weight all bread on the premises or in the course of its delivery. Ilolls must weight two ounces.

For Our !sen

LONDON, Feb. 26. Hon. W. F. Massey opened the Y. M

C.A. Decreation Hall for New Zealand-

ers at Salisbury Plain, and witnessed a, # parade and field training, and visiteu the hospital. \ •

f o.‘ f xciiange.

LONDON, Feb. 20

A large meeting in London unainmiously urged the immediate exchange or interned cibilians.

Lord Beresford said that although this involved the release of 26,000 Germans for 4,000 British it would be a “good riddance of bad rubbish,” and many of the Buhlebeiiers were insane, and many physical wrecks from consumption and other diseases. LONDON,' Feb. 2d

In reply to a question, Mr Bonar Law stated that he was ■unable to say whether a day would be given to debate the Dardanelles report.

A German Hope

COPENHAGEN, Feb. B 7

Several large Danish firms were stir, prised to receive letters from German shipping companies announcing preparations to take cargoes to America and requesting orders therefor.

The Danes asked for an explanation and the Germans replied that they expected an early termination of the war as a result of their submarinings, and so were preparing a large fleet for the .Atlantic trade. *

.Foiled

ANCO UVilvß, Feb. 27

A German attempt to establish a submarine base on Lusia Island, southeast of Cuba ; , lias been blocked by the United States destroyers.

Ths Destroyer Attack

LONDON, Fob. 25 In the House of Commons, 'Sir Edward Carson added that o*e of pm destroyer patrols encountered various enemy'-, destroyers between 11 and midnight and engaged them for some time under heavy gun and torpedo fire without receiving any damage. The effect upon the enemy was nun ascertainable on account of the growing darkness. Another force of destroyers bombarded Margate and Broadstairs. our forces were in the vicinity of and . soon firing was heard. We closed upon the enemy, who henv•jever escaped before ours aryUvpcj,