LATE WAR NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 March 1917, Page 4

LATE WAR NEWS.

[FEK PBEBB ASSOCIATION.——COPVBI6HSJ

In China. COPENHAGEN, March 3. Berlin messages state that Germany’s reply to China’s new Note declares ithait the blockade measures must be directed against neutrals, but Chinese passengers will be spared as far as possible. PEKIN, March 3rd. The Allied Ministers have addressed the Chinese Government sympathising with the attitude taken in regard to Germany and promising favorably to reconsider revision of the Boxer indemnity during the war, and also a revision of tariff in the event of China severing her relations with Austro-Ger-many. China hitherto has hesitated owing to the absence of any intimation from the Allies and such action -is welcomed. Submarinings; PARIS, March 3rd. Experience has shown that the publication of the names of torpedoed ships has been attended with serious, drawbacks and the Minister of Marine in future issues the results of the .submarine war weekly. LONDON March, 3. So far as ascertained February’s submannings totalled: British 121 Ships of 256,632 tons: Allied ten ships of 15,422 tons; neutrals fifty ships of 81,143 items. Tlie arrivals and departures for the United Kingdom till the 25th. Feb. was 16,490. SALONIKA, March 3.

There are reports of great aerial activity, and that the Serbians bombed the Bulgarian camps. The French destroyed Handan’s aero, drome and Ithe British blew up magazines at Zanuska. American News. LONDON, March 2. A wireless from the steamer Infanta Isabel in tho Atlantic states that Mr Gerard is now beyond the German danger zono without incident. NEW. YORK, March 2. Important papers have been stolen from the GerrSan consulate in Jaurez on Thursday night. NEW YORK, March 2. The Senate has voted by 64 to 15 in favour of the consideration of tho bill empowering President Wilson to arm merchantmen and giving him “blanket” powers) to protect America’s sea rights. A large majority presages the adoption of the bill to-night. NEW YORE, March 2. Germany has notified the State Department that the Yarrowdale’s crew will be sent to Switzerland, probably on March 7|th, and that their detention xe due to the fact' that a British sailor is in their camp, suffering from typhus. Austria’s Reply. LONDON, March 3. Tho “Dally Telegraph’s” Milan correspondent says 'Austria’s reply to the American Note on submariningg is expected to-morrow, and will follow the usual Teutonic sophistry, using the British blockade as a pretext for piracy and the reply is really dictated by Herr Baffin. LONDON, March 3. The Paris “Lie Tempts” quotes an American Embassy officer as saying that war is inevitable.

Holland’s Danger.

LONDON, March 3.

Lieut. Inaux, ex-foreign editor of “Lo Temps,” now on the staff of the “Foe*” makes extraordinary revelations of German schemes for tho invasion of Holland.

Ho states that on 2nd August', 1914, Germany informed Britain that eighty French officers disguised as Prussians attempted to cross the Dutch-German frontier in a motor car with a fabricated oxder.

This justified a German violation of Holland’s neutrality on the ground that Holland was an accomplice in Jthis imaginary raid. The plan for the invasion of Holland was abandoned then because Germany soon had her hands full with Belgium, and (too few submarines to prevent Britain assisting Holland. Subsequently Germany circulated in Holland a rumour of an impending (British landing, and concentrated troops on the Dutch frontier, ostensibly there to avert this. This manoeuvre also failed, as Holland was convinced that the Allies did not' threaten her neutrality, so Germany is now attempting to goad Holland to war with the view of seizing Dutch foodstuffs, her millions of gold in .the Dutch banks, and the Dutch coast, in order to provide new submarine bases in the event of Zeebrugge becoming untenable.

PARIS, March 8 •The “Temps” throws fresh light on the German provocative policy begun early in the war with (the view of overrunning France similarly to Belgium. The policy failed but Germany is now casting covetous eyes upon Holland food and gold which explains te fresh provocations, especially the seven recent submarining^.

LES DARCY FALLS IN.

No Time for Slacker.

NEW YORK, March 2.

The United Press announces that Governor Whitman has directed tho i,State Athletic Commission to prohibit D’Arcy from entering the ring, on Monday against Dillon on the grounds that ho is' nothing but a slacker. D’Arcy is also prohibited from partaking in any contest within the fcuaib. Governor Whitman said ho understood that D’Arcy had run away from Australia, being afriad to fight for the cause in which his fellow countrymen had sacrificed their lives, and he was prepared to give a brutal exhibition at some personal risk for a purse of £6OOO.

Mr Grant-Brown, the fight promoter, believes that Governor Whiteman ,s mis-informed regarding D’Arcy’s departure from Australia, and he intends to give the Governor correct information in tho hope of inducing him to change his mind.

Calling Up .Men.

LONDON, March 3

The Army Council lias ordered a general revision of the certificates of exemption of men under 31. The Government impresses all tribunals that the war is reaching a critical stage and it is imperative to cibtain more men, and Army exrn.it-ion-i rre nowise justified on the groiir.il of emjlcyment on hardships un-ess for most exceptional. It intimates that the special arrangements for postponing tho calling i.p of religious wtorkers and stiidents are terminated.

Shipbuilding NEW YORK, March 2. It is stated in shipping circles that the Cunard line will spend £20,000,W9 sterling for the Atlantic and Pacific lilies. Shipyards will build a great liner fleet to foil the submarine blockade, replacing these as fast as they are sunk. Russian Report. LONDON, March 3. A wireless Russian official says!:— Our gas attack northward of Lake Narotch provoked a panic in the enemy’s trenches and drove tho Germans who had entered the first line trenches northwestward of Brsliczany.