MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS

Hokitika Guardian, 17 December 1917, Page 3

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS

fN’TKII-VLT. IKD <’OUNCIL. fAUSTRALIAN & N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION] & REUTER.] LONDON December 15. Official The Inter-Allied Council oil I war purchases has been .finally es- | tablislied. Tt will sit alternately in London and Paris. The primary object for consideration is the news of the Allies for purchases in l nited states The Council will indicate priorities but tho final (lection ihereanent will be made at Washington .. MEAT PRICES. LONDON December 14. The meat trade is in a critical state. Butchers are keenly competing. '1 here are insufficient cattle, tat bullocks realising £9O which is £25 over their value under the fixed prices of dead meat. Butchers threaten to close their shops unless prices are fixed for live stock. AUSTRIA’S MODESTY. * BERNE (December 14. . The “Neuvo Froie Presse,” in an inspired article says Austria wants no ’increase of territory. Hungary, moreover, refuses to accept the inclusion of Roumania and Serbia in the Monarchy. These points can/easily be settled with Lenin; hut peace conditions must definitely guarantee to Austria all surplus grain and cattle from Roumania and Serbia. AFTER THE WAR. (Reuter’s Telegram.) LONDON, December 15. In the House of Commons Sir E. Carson stated that during a period of reconstruction after the war until the need of ourselves were satisfied, Get many would not get an ounce of Imperial raw material .

! BLACKMAILING FINLAND. LONDON, Dec. 15th. A Haparanda report says that tlie Military Revolutionary Committee of tho Russian troops in Finland demanded £390,000 from the Finnish Government. as the price of their withdrawal. They refuse to release corn, supplies until one-fiftli of the levy is paid, notwithstanding that Finland has already prfid for the corn. AN INVESTIGATION. WASHINGTON, Doc. 14. A committee has hebu appointed to investigate the administration of the Navy Department. A movement is growing in lavour ol a Coalition Cabinet. FAVOUR OF REPRISALS. (Reuter’s Telegram.) LONDON, Dec. 14. Lord Northmere, following Mr Lloyd George a± the Air Service dinner, said the Air Board wholeheartedly favoured reprisals. If tho enemy elects it will be an eye for art. eye and a tooth for u tooth,. He detested the doctrine as grossly immoral; but in fighting for the lives of women and children, whatever outrages wore committed on the civilian population must be mot by similar treatment of the German people. I COLONIAL INDIGNATION. Received, this day at 8.45 a.m. LONDON December 16. The “Standard” states there is indignation among the colonial troops that the rules of the House of Commons permit Messrs Duthwaite, King and other Pacifists to insist on unpatriotic queytiops n/ot of pubic fntefest. It 4 is alleged they are not allowed in Dominion Parliaments.. I PROSPECT IN STORE. | Received, this day at 8.45 a.m. BERNE December 16. 1 The “Neue Freie Press” and “Reichste Post’” state s the Central Empires will impose such peace conditions on Serbia and Roumania, that both henco j forward will be economically dependent cn Germany and Austria .

I THE “CONTEMPTIBLE” ARMY j HONORING ITS MEMORY, f “tiecter’s” I’EEEGRAM -1 I (Received. This Day at 8.50. a.mA i LONDON December 16. An historic/ event in the shape of celebration in honour of tho first seven divisions of the British Army who at great sacrifice against tremendous odds stemmed the. German tide in 1914, was held at Albert Hall. There was a big gathering including their Majcstys, and other Royalties. Sevo„ hundred survivors, many of whom were wounded marched in procession and were afterwards entertained at lunch by the Lord Mayor. . ’ The whole of the music was hv British composers. The central piece was de- ■ dicatod to the seven divisions. ; The impressive service was closed by 1 the sing of the symn “For All Thy i Saints” and the sounding of the “Reveille.” Great crowds cheered the survivors.

FOOD SHORTAGE

(Received This Day at 9.15 a.m.) LONDON, Dee. 16tli.

Food queues are increasing in London and Provincial cities. Mon, women, and children wait for hours for a low ounces of tea, sugar and margarine, which arc soon sold out. The Workers National Committee representing large trade unions, uains Government of the grave temper these quouos are causing among tho workers, and demands compulsory rationing of nil classes. ADMIRALTY LOSSES.

{Received This Day at 9.30. a.m.) LONDON, Doc. 10.

The Admiralty reports that a British airship of a new rigid type with a crew of live proceeded on patrol on the 11th from ail east coast base, and has not returned. Tt is believed to have boon destroyed by a hostile seaplane in a southern port of the North boa. A second airship of a similar type was forced to descend through engine trouble in Holland on the 12th. A (British destroyer was sunk on the 11 tli, after a collision and two men are missing.

GREEK EX-LEADERS HEAVY PINES.

fßeceived This Dav at 10.15. -i.’Vi ) ATHENS, December 16. The Court has concluded an investigation into the charges against Lambros and Skoulcudis. Their property i w sequestrated and Lambros ordered lo outer iifto a bond for payment to the victims of the outbreak of Inst December. Skoulondis was ordered to guarantee the reimbursement to the 1 reasnry of five and half million fiance in respect io illegal payments L> officials. KAISER’S CHRISTMAS MESSAGE. . ,'Rcc-ive.l TV.v "i U*.ls , m > BERNE December 16. ! A telegram from Berlin states the Kaiser in a Christmas message to the German people declares ho will make a final offer for peace. Tts rejection will impose on our enemies all the responsibility for bloodshed in 1918. A DENIAL. r-'BKDTim’B” TERROR AM. ] (Toroived 'LL is Bnv.at 10.1.5. a.m > LONDON December 16' Lord Robert Cecil states that what purports to he a German repiy to Hon. A. J. Balfour’s states in pa • lament regarding German peace !'v,*rtures in September, is quite nn'ni" Following Lc load of Air. Wilson. Britain has been continually endeavoarin,, to discover what are Germany’s war aims a.nd .repeatedly endeavoured to go* this information by means of Ministerial speeches, but hitherto unsimjc.ssfully. It is however, utterly untrue to suggest that any private <snqit : ics have been addressed to the enemy nitih tho knowledge of the British Government AN KX PLOSION. S " p (Received T)"® 11 " v nt Tlof,n PARIS, Dec. 16th. A Zurich message reports an explosion at the Zeppelin works at Friedrich - shnven, many persons being injured.