MISCELLANEOUS NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 October 1918, Page 1

MISCELLANEOUS NEWS.

f APHTHA LI AN it N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION]

SEAMEN’S DEMAND

LONDON, October 16

A mass mooting of the Liverpool seamne demanded full German reparation for the Leinster outrage and overthrow of the Kaiser and militarism. It was decided to extend the boycott of Germany for another year until this is secured.

SPAIN TAKES GERMAN SHIPS. MADRID, October 15. Germany has agreed that Spain shall take over seven German ships, of a tonnage of 21,G00. A USTR A LIANS’ RECORD. LONDON, October 15. There is a feeling amongst the Australian troops in London, that the English newspaers and public do not fully realise the outstanding part the Australians have taken on the recent fighting on % the British front. It is claimed on their behalf that the credit can be taken by them for the successful offensive policy that commenced on the Btli August, which eliangcdtheAlied defensive policy into an offensive policy, thus paving the way for the big advance which is still progressing. It was the Australians who made the first serious breach in the Hindeuburg line, and during the past six months’ fighting from March to October the Australians have captured two hundred and fifty-one square miles of territory and have recaptured sixteen towns and villages, and also many other strong points. They took 58,665 prisoners and 332 guns. They met and defeated the equivalent of seventythree German divisions, including those re-appearing the second time. The Australian losses have been much less than the prisoners they captured.

PRISONERS ILL-TREATED. LONDON, October 15

The Younger Committee has mndo its report on the German treatment of war prisoners taken during the spring offensive. The report is based on testimony of 70 escapees. It says: it was almost an exact counter-part tit th e treatment of earlier prisoners. The enemy totally failed to provide prisoners with any food. This may be explained 4>y the number of prisoners exceeding expectations, but the sustenance "Vfer was inadequate. Prisoners were also forced to do unauthorised work near the battle front. Many com pounds were without warmth, sheltei or sanitation. Some guards were crneland a few doctors brutal. Prisoners at Villers were forced to live in the open for a fortnight, and they could not dry their clothes and could not, wash. The report adds: The Red Cross was flown over ammunition dumps, in one instance a prisoner’s hut six hundred yards behind the line was shelled and often hit, and fourteen British were killed. . _ . A prisoner named Ellis, .suffering from a bullet wound in the jaw, cried in pain. A doctor hit him on the ]nw and the man died next day. c railway catastrophe. BERNE. Oct. 10. The Bucharest express fell into a river near Diagra, where heavy rains had undermined the rails A hundred were killed, and two hundred serious l\