MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS

Hokitika Guardian, 19 June 1917, Page 3

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS

(Per Press Association —Copyright! \ INDIAN WAR LOAN. ‘ 1 CALCUTTA, Juno ISth. The Indian war loan has closed. Subscriptions exceeded £24,000,000,- bo- j sides £2,380,000 invested in Post Office and quinquennium certificates. JAPAN’S PART. LONDON, June 17. Owing,to the extent of the patrol work which the Japanese Navy is now performing the Imperial Diet at Tokio will shortly be asked for a vote of credit amounting to £25,000,000. Tho money will bo devoted to building ono 32,000 ton battleship, two destroyers, two submarines, and ono 10,000 ton ship for special unspecified use. The armament of all the vessols will be the most modern, the lessons of the war being evident in the construction. AUSTRIAN EXPLOSION. BERNE, June 18. Vienna reports a formidable explosion at Steinfeld, a suburb of Vienna. Three munition depots were blownup. Details are lacking. JAPANESE VESSEL LOST. TOKIO, June 16. The Niko Maru stranded on the ; West coast of the Ivo province and i later foundered.

'" JAPAN'S NAVY. OPERATING IN MANY SEAS. (Received This Dav at 9.50. a.m.) LONDON, June 18. Admiral Yamaji, of the Japanese Navy, outlining Japan’s part in the war, said' in response to an appeal by I the British Government, Japanese warships were operating in the Mediterranean and Indian Oceans, and some were operating close to Australian shores. DUTCH POLITICS. NEW YORK, June 16. --The '“Now Work Times’’ Hague cori espi ndent states that Demt.ciacy is fast gaining in Holland. The provincial States are electing a First Chamber to-day. It is proposed to revise tlie Constitutions providing universal suffrage proportionate representation and probably franchise for women. THE MUNITION EXPLOSION. LONDON, Juno 16. The Press Bureau states: As a result of the Ashton under Lyne explosion 41 aro dead and 130 injured. File was the cause- of the Explosion. The majority of the workpeople escaped.

FRENCH WAR CREDIT,

PARIS, June 16

The Chamber of Deputies passed the quarterly war credits by 555 votes to 3.

j M. Renaudel, on behalf of M l © Socialist group, read a declaration affirming- their collaboration with the Allies in securing the liberation of . Alsace-Lorraine and reparation for other invaded territories.

j The group adopts the Russian Government’s formula of peaco without annexation and 'indemnities and regrets that the Government did not repose confidence in the patriotism -of the party’s delegates to Stockholm. HUNGARIAN POLITICS. AMSTERDAM, June 13. M. Estorhazy has formed a Cabinet representing all parties except Count Tisza’s. BULGARIA AND GERMANY. AMSTERDAM, Juno 16. Tsar Ferdinand, accompanied by M. Radoslavoff and Princes' Cyril and Boris, visited German headquarters and interviewed the Kaiser. They came to a complete agreement on all questions.

SINKING OF THE BLUCHER. LONDON, June 16. A Gazette ’ announces that the Now Zealand's share in the prize money v#ith for'f.y-six other war vessels hi' connection with the destruction of •the Bluclier. Tile maximum bounty for senior officers is £7O, and the, minimum Is 2d.

BELGIAN COMMISSION. WASHINGTON, June 17th. The Belgian Commission has arrived at an American port. The personnel are Moncliour Leclerg, Dureel, Jean Marntens and Hector Cared’. •

PALESTINE OPERATIONS. [“llF.OT Ell’s” -TKTjEGRAM.] CAIRO, June 18. The operations in Palestine are now limited t.o trench warfare .The British artillery dominates the Turkish positions inflicting numerous casualties every day. Our airmen frequently and effectively raid the' camps and headquarters at Beersliebn, Gazn, and Harriere..

THU MILITARY CROSS. (Received. This Day at 8.50. a.m.) LONDON, June 18. Lieut 11. Speight of the New Zealand Field Artillery has boon awarded the Military Cross.

FOOD SUPPLIES. LONDON; June 18. Lord Rhonda announces that Government has given him ample authority to deal with the whole situation. He is empowered if necessary to take over tho country’s food ' supply and to strongly check speculation. When thousands arc making the supreme sacrifice in tho cause of liberty tho profiteer is a blackmailer and must lie treated ns such. My first effort will be- to reduce the price oi bread.

GERMAN CASUALTIES

AMSTERDAM, June 18 German official—Casualties reported during May totnl 110,956, of which there were 19,006 deaths. _ _ The total casualties are 4,356,/60 of which there were 1,068,127 deaths.

NEW HUN AEROPLANES. PARIS, June 18. Marcel Hutin says the Huns are using new, three se-ater aeroplanes, for bombing London.

AMERICAN SHIPBUILDING. (Received This Dav at 10.15. a.m.) WASHINGTON, June 18 It is announce^.that Government has made a contract for the construction of tin additonal ten steel ships and 24 wooden hulls. The total contracted for to date is 28 steel, 32 wooden and steel, 30 complete wooden ships, and 48 wooden hulls

PRICES FOR STEEL

NEW YORK, June 18,

Tho United Press correspondent at Washington learns that Government is fixing the prices of steel as the result of a report that the steel companies plan large profits on food ships.

LATE MAJOR, REDMOND

(Received This Day at 9.50. a.m.) LONDON, June 18.

At a demonstration at /Ennis in memory of Major W. Rcdrnond, two thousand Nationalists marched in procession with draped flags, and bands played funeral marches. It concluded with a funeral oration. Nationalists Have selected Patrick Lynch as a candidate for the vacancy.

I THE .ENEMY BEWILDERED. IMPROVED BRITISH TACTICS. LONDON, June 18. Mr Philip Gibbs states:—There nre signs of bewilderment among the enemy after tho loss of Messines. Tho German command appears to bo undecided where to make the next stand. Many groups of Germans in the neighbourhood of Warneton are in a hideous position because they aro out of touch with headquarters, and are. living an awful life in shell craters, under our gunfire. Our advance on the west side or fßuUecouitb Hakes another section °f the H'indenburg line, of which little is now' left.

The organisation of the British Army amply provides against the hot weather and fierce sun, baking the troops who are now brown. It is noteworthy that water was sent up quickly in the Messines Battle, also two lemons for each man. The common opinion is that the Messine s show was the best thing any army has done. Twenty German officers, dragged out of their dug-outs at Wytschaete, in blackest despair, declared that their men had gone to the devil. The second division of. East Prussian had been wiped out and from 3660 troops, 2000 were taken prisoner. Mosff of the remainder wero killed or wounded.

ITALY’S CABINET. ROME, June 18

Several newspapers of the opinion that Cabinet has been strengthened and consolidated others would have preferred a complete change. The verdict lis to be given at tho opening of the Chamber on the2oth.

SPANISH MANIFESTO. (Received, This Day at 8.50. a.m.) MADRID, June 18. The Republican Party have issued a manifesto, stating that recent events reveal a grave national crisis and a failure of hope of reconciling democracy with the present regime. It demonstrates the necessity of the Left Party maintaining unity. We are desirous of saving Spain, and it lis useless to hope tho present regime can amend the evils under which the country suffers, every day more seriously. We pledgo ourselves to use our positions as Deputies to secure the sovereign will of the liartiou to prevail over every other kind of power.

GENERAL- SMUTS. Reuter’s Telegrams. (Received This Dav at 11.25. a.m.) LONDON, Juno 18. General Smuts remains in England as adviser in a military capacity. General Smuts’ position in tho War Cabinet will he limited to war operations and international matters. He will principally be used as an emissary to foreign Governments.

CANADIAN SHIPS. TORONTO, Juno 18 Four steel Vessels for the Canadian fishing service have been launched. The Minister, of Marino in a' speech, said owing to the higher wages in Great Britain. Canada was able to compete with her ship-building. Ho anticipated a great development of tho industry in Canada.

AMERICA’S DETERMINATION. RESTORATION OF 'BELGIUM. (Received This Dav at 12.25. p.m.) WASHINGTON, Juno 18. President Wilson declares that America is determined that 'Belgium shall bo restored to her former place among the nations.

SUBMARINE PERIL. LONDON, Juno 17.

Captain Bathurst states there is no diminution of tho submarine activity The enemy make a selection of vessels of the heaviest tonnage, which tho offie ialreturns do not mako clear to the public. Tho main reason fewer are sunk is due to the arming of merchantmen There is littlo hope of an improved sugar supply, as two months ago, in ten days, forty thousand tons of sugar wore sunk.

ARCTIC EXPLORATION. SAN FRANCISCO, Juno 17. Stejanson shortly attempts the northeast passage from tho Pacific to the Atlantic.