THE WAR CONFERENCE

Hokitika Guardian, 26 May 1917, Page 1

THE WAR CONFERENCE

1 Blue Book Deport. (Australian & N.Z, C-bie Association and Rtnttr.) LONDON, May 24. A Blue book of 163 pages of the proceedings at the Imperial War Conference has been issued . It .contains the resolutions already cabled and extracts from the min own. A number of papers were laid before the conference notably a memorandum on. emigration from India to the Dominions presented by the Indian repn-o-entative which the conference recommends to the favourable consideration of the Governments concerned. The conference suggests that Indians already permanently Settled in the Dominions should be allowed to bring their wives subject to the rule of monogamy and minor children and in otbei' respects to bo not less privileged imm Japanese imi grants • In future admissions of Indians for labor or setucmeait to be regulated on lines not less favourable than those governing other Asiatics. If this is impossible there might be reciprocal treatment of Indai by each donmion, but if the dominion is determined to exclude there «,»»u classes, India should be free to do the same. It is clearly recognised that exclusion in either case should nor be moved by race prejudice, but as tlie outcome of different economic conditions. In the event of such exclusion reciprocal arrangements should >.c made graning facilities of admission'to tourists, students and business men on visits entailing temporary residence.

uerman Report. LONDON, May 24. Wireless Germain .official: —We repulsed French attacks west of Fronidmont Farm and Vauclere and penetrated the French position at tlie Forest of Apremont. We brought down ten acropalnes. Fighting activity lias rerived at several positions on the East Front. *v e drove off Russian reconnoitres eastward of Tukkum.

in China. PEKIN, May 24. President Li Yuan Sung has dismissed the Premier Tuan Chi Jiu and names Wuting Fang, the Acting-Pre-mier, as* authorised to form a Cabinet. This will probabaly end the deadlock in Parliament and.result in a declaration of war on Germany.

Empire Day (Australia &■ N.Z. Cable Association) LONDON, May 24. There Were enthusiastic demonstrations oin (Empire Day in London and the provinces. Sir Thomas Mackenzie presented Dunedin’s flag to the Halden street school at .Battersea. A feature of the school cel. bratioffs were the exhortations for food economy.

THE R&IuER MOEWE’S ATLANTIC RAID. LONDON, April 10. With the of tlie German auxiliary cruiser, Moewe, to Kiel, and the release of neutral seamen from tlie sunken vessels, a few particulars concerning the latest Atlantic raid come to light. It was announced in Berlin on March 22nd that tlie Moew© bad returned to a-German port, and two days later the British Admiralty published the names of ten British vessels which had been sunk or captured by the raider in addition to those whose loss way reported in January. Among the •tlie victims the Otaki was included. She was a vessel of 9575. tons, owned by the N.Z.'Shipping Company. The Moewe met the Otaki, which, it is stated, was not on the New Zealand run. There ensued a determined fight, tlie Otaki resisting pluckily against great odds to the end. The O.taki, in fact,, fought a regular engagement. The neutral sailors, who were gathered together in a small saloon amidships, awaited the result ’of the fight amid tlie greatest excitement. Tlie Moewe was hit by seven shells, one of which struck her two feet under tlie saloon, where the neutral prisoners ..were congregated, and killed two German soldiers 1 . The Moewo was set on fire, arid tlie outbreak was only got under three days later. During the engagement the British prisoners were pila'ced in a room below tho German guns. They suddenly however, managed to force the iron door; but tlie German soldiers stood with bombs in their hands to prevent them escaping on deck. In the end, the Otaki sail-rendered and her crew were taken on-board the Moewe. Her captain, first officer, chief engineer, and two of her crew had been killed. Two Hindu prisoners on board the Moewe were also killed. The Otaki was then sunk. Captain Smith, of the Otaki, had formerly commanded tlie Hurunui and tlie Rakai. It is impossible to obtain! any further information, as the survivors of'the Otaki’s crew are now prisoners in Germany. The Moewe was at one time cruising outside Cape Town and at another outside Rio. When her coal supply began to run low slie turned homewards via New Foundland, and the North Atlantic. Her holds were filled with from 500 to 600 prisoners. The many British prisoners were kept apart rrom the others as a strict watch could not bo maintained on all of them., The Moewe carried five big guns and four torpedo tubes. She was fitted with high removable masts and with dummy funnels which could be unshipped. She was repeatedly painted in different colours. There was also a sham steering wheel aft. Afc night the masts were sefc up and she proceeded at full speed; during the day she steamed slowly. At 11 a.m. on March 21st she passed" Elsinore and entered the Sound. On her arrival at Kiel British officer, prisoners were sent to Karlsruhe and the men to Westphalia. A number of guns removed from the British vessels sunk were sent to various prison camps,