MISCELLANEOUS NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 27 May 1918, Page 3

MISCELLANEOUS NEWS

IMPERIAL WAR CABINET.

(Received, This Dav at 8.’50. a.m.) LONDON, May 26.

Government regards the- meeting of tho Imperial War-Cabinet as of considerable importance, coming at a time when the war is likely to reach a deoisive issuo. Many matters of Empire concern will ongage attention, which can only bo dealt with by tho personal attendance of the Dominion Ministers. Since last Conforenco many new points of interest have arisen demanding settlement.

It is generally believed that the ■ meeting is far more important than the last year’s session, and will occupy weeks, and it may be necessary to extend that period if affairs in the war \ theatre call for prolonged consultations. SENTENCED TO DEATH. (Received This Day at 9.15 a.m.) PARIS, May 26. Madam© Mort, a French woman was sentenced to death for espionage. Her .son of 16 was 1 sent to an industrial school. Tlie woman was acting as agent of a German spy in Spain, and utilised the services of her son and daughter. Tho latter was in -a convent in Barcc- j lona, conveying information as to the movements of troops and other facts of importance to the enemy. TEA RATION. (Received This Day at 9.50. a.m.) LONDON, May 26. Tea will ho rationed in July at 2J ounces weekly.

LABOUR’S AIMS

(Received This Dav at 9.50. a.m.) LONDON, May 26.

Mr Henderson, presiding at- -Labour’s Educational Conference said that educational reconstruction will bo an essential part of social reconstruction after the war. Labour’s policy aimed at the fullest educational facilities for every child, irrespective of its parents and Labour intended to break the vicious circle binding ignor-' t mice t-o poverty, and to those declaring ! that industry needs abundant supply of cheap juvenile labour. We answer. “Hands off the children.” WOMEN WORKERS. Received, th.s day at 8.45 a.m. LONDON, May 26. Lord Desborough has announced one hundred thousand women have replaced male workers in aeroplane factories. There is no shortage of machines for the front or home defence. SUEZ CANAL TRAFFIC. (Received This Day at 9.50. a.m.) PARIS, May 26. Suez Canal report for 1917 shows there -were 2353 transits representing 8,368,000 tons, fifty-five per cent of which was Government traffic, a reduction of 3,680,000 tons compared with 1916.

VINDICITIVE SHIFTED

PASSAGE MADE AT OSTEND

[London times service—copyright]

(Received This Day at. 9.50. a.m.) LONDON, May 26. The Germans have Buc-cceded in shilling the position of the cruiser Vindictive ,at Ostend, leaving a. passage bare, ly sufficient for large destroyers, but the harbour at present is not used.

BRUGES STILL BLOCKED

LONDON, May 26,

Attempts wdte made at Zeebrugge fruitlessly to dredg© a passage between the two sunken cruisers. Bruges basin is full of ships. Many have been sent back to Germany. The effect of the blockade on the submarine campaign is not yet visible.

SEAMEN'S BOYCOTT. (Received This Dav at 1U.15. a in.) LONDON, May 26.

Mr Havelock Wilson speaking at Albert Hall, said that the seamen were adding months to the boycott for every fresh German crime. The boycott now totalled five years and eight months including two months for the recent deliberate bombing of hospitals. This meant that 250 thousand of British sailors were pledged not to tolerate a German aboard a British ship, nor to take a British ship to a German port, during the period of the boycott-.

CLERGY ENLISTING. (Received I'his Dn.v ai 11.26. a.m.)

LONDON, May 26

Sixty clergy in London Diocese arc joining the army for combatant service.

The Hoard of Trade has closed 607 Him businesses in England, the capital ranging to two millions.

REICHSTAG PRESIDENT DEAD, tltoceivcd Tins Da.v at 11.26. a.m.) COPENHAGEN,, May 26.

Berlin advices report the death of Kacnipf, President of the Reichstag. According to the “Arbiter Zeitung” a great Austrian Socialist Congress meets at Vienna on the 30th.

SUFFERING PRISONERS (Received Tins Dav at 11.25. a.m.'

LONDON, May 26,

A released Italian officer states 350 Italy war prisoners died at Sigmunderburg camp in the fifteen months ending October. Since then'the mortality ha 3 been three-fold greater, mostly from tuberculosis. The Austrian Government has taken no measures to alleviate the sufferings and many o"f the prisoners were actually starving.

MUNITIONS OUTPUT. (Received This Dav at 12.26. p.m.) LONDON, May 26.

Mr Kellaway in a speech referred to the wonderful achievement of munition factories sinoe the offensive commenced on 21st March. Despite the releasing of eight thousand workers weekly for the Army, the estimate of guns to bo delivered has been exceeded by thirty per cent. The workers have responded magnificently to the demands for certain shells and increased the out. put by eight hundred per cent.