MISCELLANEOUS NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 August 1918, Page 3

MISCELLANEOUS NEWS.

PRISONERS CONFERENCE. WASHINGTON, Aug. 13. Germany has accepted America’s proposal for a conference on the subject of treatment and exchange of prisoners. The Conference will be hold during September,

AMERICAN LABOUR MISSION WASHINGTON, Aug. 13.

An American Labour Mission, headed by ,-Gompers, will visit Britain, France, and Italy in September, for the purpose of conferring with Labour representatives. Socialism will not be discussed or represented. FIRING AT SEA. COPENHAGEN, August 14. A violent cannonade was heard at Skagen coming from the Skngerack on Monday morning when several vessels were seen travelling north at full speed.

SEVERING RELATIONS. (Received this day at 12.36 a.m.) LONDON, August 14. A diplomatic rupture between Spain and Germany is imminent.

PRISONERS IN GERMANY. THEIR. HARSH TREATMENT. /Received This Dav at 950 a.m.) NEW YORK, Aug. 14. The “ Herald’s ” correspondent on the West'Front interviewed two British escaped prisoners. They said four thousand British prisoners and one thousand Russian prisoners were forced by the Germans to build a railway system south of the Aisnc, below the Vesle river. The Germans had changed the signs from “ Got Strafe- England” to “ Gott Strafe America.”

The men told the correspondents that tho Germans were using paper bandages in the hospitals. English and French bombers created a panic and caused the greatest havoc in the Rhine country. American wounded prisoners wore inhumanely treated. The prisoners’ daily rations were: Breakfast, a pint of coffee made of hawthorn berries; luncheon vegetable soup of dried vegetables; sooner, a pint of coffee, three quarters of a pound of black broad. On this diet they were forced to work from daylight to dark.

BRITISH-AMERICAis ALLIANCE. (Received This Dav at 9.25 a.m.) LONDON,-Aug. 14. The “Evening News” says I.ord Reading ha 3 returned from America, in order to suggest an Anglo-American defensive and offensive alliance. SPANISH INFLUENZA. Received, this dav at 8.15 a.m. NEW YORK, Aug. 14. Spanish influenza has caused four deaths on a Norwegian vessel docked hero. According to the officers, ten persons were also seriously ill of the iame disease. The health authorities lave taken precautions to prevent its pread to the city population. j —2 i PRICES OF SILVER. ! (Received Tins Day at 11.25. a.in.) LONDON, Aug. 14. The maximum price of silver lias een fixed at the currency price of /0 3-16 d. THE LUXURY TAX. BRITISH PROPOSALS. v (Received This Dav nt 11.25. a.m.) LONDON, August 14. The gelect Committee on the Luxury

j Tax, lias issued a report detailing tho proposals. Long schedules cover a vast number of commodities, many of which : are subjected to the tax irrespectively of value. For perfumes, works of art-, .things used in sport-and amusement. The second schedule covers meals, board and lodging. Dinners costing above /’ should be taxed breakfasts 3/-, afternoon tea 1/-, board and lodging 17/daily ,and 100/- weekly, single bedrooms , 45/- weekly, double 75/-. Another list taxes men’s boots costing above 40/and women’s shoes above 30/G, ana men's suits above eight guineas, women’s costumes seven guineas, tobacco ! ]/- an ounce, cigars ninepence, horses £l5O sterling; furniture suites £SO sterling. | ’A minority report'says the taxes will he ( defeated if the duty is chargeable on j the whole amount, therefore it should ! be charged on the surplus over the j exemption limit. j The committee recommends exemptions in favour of articles purchased hv museums, libraries and art galleries i and considers the schedule of prices ■ should he rnisablo to meet any rise in j prices. j

STARVED PRISONERS. (R'-eeive- 1 This Dav at 11.25. a.m.) WASHINGTON. .Aug. 14. On the Vesle front, hunger strike,n Britishers escaped and arrived in the American lines after passing through German barrage. They were captured in the Marne fighting. They spent several days and nights after escaping from a German prison camp. ’ They declared that British prisoners were beaten ami starved. German soldiers are living on horsemeat.

BRITISH PROTEST (Received This Day at 11.15 a.in.) MEXICO CITY, Aug. 1-1. Replying to n British protest against the oil decree alleged , to be eonfiscatory of British oil interests, Mexico has refused to consider any foreign Government has any right to protest against Mexican fiscal legislation. Government, however, is willing to allow Mexican courts to decide whether the decree is unjust.

A DENIAL. (Received This Dav nt l] 25. a.m ) WASHINGTON, Aug. 14. It is officially denial that Lord Reading's visit to London is in connection with an Anglo-American alliance. AFRICAN POLITICS. . CAPETOWN, August 14. Tho Nationalists Central Committee's resolution in favour of independence has been sent to all branches with instructions to move together with uocoufidence against all Ministers in the course of their present tour. This has been carried everywhere at the meetings, though tho Ministers have been courteously received nnd given a fair hearing.

EMPEROR, CARL. (Received l’ln« l>nv at 12'20 p.m.) AMSTERDAM, Aug. 11.

A message from Vienna states. Emperor Carl has proceeded to the German headquarters, accompanied by the Foreign Minister and Chief of the General Staff.

U-BOAT SINKINGS. (Received This Day at 11.15 a.m.) PARIS, August 14

The Djenmah was sunk on 14th., July and the Australien was torpedoed on 10 July nnd foundered after burning. Seventeen of the crew were lei I led and three passengers are missing. 949 were saved. Both the Djenmah and Australien were convoyed.

Another ship was torpedoed with the. Australien but was not sunk.