MISCELLANEOUS

Hokitika Guardian, 15 September 1917, Page 3

MISCELLANEOUS

OERMAN MANPOWEB

FaVSTIIAUAN &, N.Z. CABI.R ASSOCIATIONJ LONDON, Sept. 14.

-vir. Warner Allen writes that Germany's dwindling man-power is shown bv the fact of her calling up recruits as they reach the age of seventeen. Germany during the war had 14,000,000 men available between the ages of 17 and 45, ofwhoni 5,750,000 were mobilised in 1914. They added 2,450,000 to the army in 1915, 1,800,000 in 1910, and 450,000 in 1917. The rest of the 1916 and 1920 contingents will make the army’s strength 11,200,000 men of whom tho Germans admit 1,158,000 have been killed, 2,922,000 wounded, and 710,000 are missing. Tho Allies’ calculations show that the permanent los s is 4,000000.

. The German (man-power is thus distributed:—Now in the army 5,500.000, shortly to be incorporate-., 1,300,000; in hospital, 500,000; abroad 200,000; able-bodied men required for the interior, 500,000.

LORD KITCHENER. • LONDON, Sept. 13. A Liverpool firm has accepted a £SO- - risk at 400 to one that Lord Kitchener will he alive after the war. It has refused orders for another £2OOV 000. A BIG COMPANY.

(Received This Dav at 10.15. a.m.) LONDON, Sep. 13.

Newspapers reveal an extraordinary proposal for the formation of a company called tho “British Corporation,” with a capital of £1,000,000,000 to develop and distribute the Empire’s produce under a. system of co-partnership with labour.

Mr Willoughby Dobroke invited guests to dinner a't the Savoy Hotel to hear the syndicate’s prospects. No names were given, but several leading men were prominent on tho dinner list. Hon Lloyd George and Messrs Aokland and Geddis have since denied the acceptance of the scheme, which is not connected with tho British Trade Corporation, or the Empire Resources’ Development Committee.

PRICE OF BUTTER. (Received This Dav at 10.15. a.m.) SYDNEY, Tliis Day. The Federal Government has increased the price of butter in New South Wales to £7 18s. 4d per cwt.

THE KING’S WELCOME.

[AUSTRALIAN & N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION & REUTER.]

(Received This Dav at 10.16. ri.’ii l LONDON, Sep. 14.

The Press Bureau states the King hr a message to the repatriated soldiers welcomed them back to their old country, for lvhose honour and safety their duty had been nobly done and lie hoped they would have happiness at home, and in life and among their friends; also that their wounds would heal and obscure the memory of their sufferings.

BRUTAL CAPTORS. LONDON, Sep. 14

’ Repatriated Australians toll many stories of brutal cruelty anti some of cold blooded murder. A potty officer belonging to the Navy was kicked to death in hospital after being wounded in battle. There were twelve Britishers in the hospital. The sick and wounded told the authorities that they were unable to work. A German noncom thereupon ordered the man to boat the British woundecf ”-Hii rifles. The petty officer attempted to strike the non-com, but was murdered for his effort. The authorities held an enquiry but smothered the matter over. -

DWINDLING NUMBER*. (Received This Dnv at 9.30. Itn.l AMSTERDAM, Sept, 16. The membership of the Socialist party in Germany decreased from a million in 1914 to 240,000 in 1917. Subscribers to the Socialist papers have fallen from 1.500,000 to 62.000.