MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS

Hokitika Guardian, 27 January 1919, Page 3

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS

f AUSTRALIAN it N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION] POLITICAL CRITICISM. LONDON, Jan. 25. Tlie Northcliffe press lias opened a campaign against Sir Austen Chamberlain’s appointment as Chancellor of the Exchequer. It is vigorously criticising the new war bond issue. ABOLITION OF CONSCRIPTION. PARIS, January 24

Sir l-'raser states: That, at Britain’s instance, the powers are discussing the abolition of conscription and disarmament. It is clear, ho saj-s that the enemy must disarm first. It is possible to-day’s meeting of the Supreme War Council will deal with the subject. The powers are anxious to complete the actual Peace Treaty at the earliest moment in order to effect demobilisation and without awaiting the settlement of the League of Nations proposal or the Russian situation. Mr Fraser says' the American view is less emphatically in favour of punishing the Kaiser than that of the Allies. In the American’s view, the Kaiser’s punishment after a trial would be less than if lie remains in exile unpunished and further that his punishment would not remove the fundn- ' mental causes of the war.

DOMINION VIEWS. PARIS, -January 24. The Colonial Premier’s explained tli,Dominion's interests in reference to territorial adjustments and the German colonies during the afternoon session of the Conference. ! AUSTRALIA’S WAR LOSSES. MELBOURNE, January 25 The Australian war casualties so far recorded are:— Dead 58,037 Wounded 116,230 Sick 82,402 Total 306,669 The other casualties bring the grand total to 208,80(5.

1 FRENCH EYE CASUALTIES. | PARIS, January 24. The number of French soldiers los- ' ing both eyes during .the war has bee a , calculated at seven thousand. Those , who have lost one eve number between | thirty and forty thousand. 1 THE NEW ZEALAND. LONDON, Jan. 25. The battlecruiser New Zealand is to be recommissioned oil February 11th. In order that as many as possible of the crew will be the men who manned the New Zealand during war, Sir T. MacKcnzie has arranged with the Admiralty to allow New Zealanders to volunteer for service in Australasian waters, though the rest of the crew will be paid off. |

Focrr goes to Poland. LONDON, January 24. 'l'hc “Evening Standard’’ states Mar shal Foch has already gone to Poland. MANOEL STILL IN ENGLAND. LONDON, Jamiry 24. Ex-King Manuel lias not so far left London for Portugal. A Madrid wireless message states that PortugueSt warships are bombarding Oporto, which the monarchists control. M ANOEL PUTS TO SEA. MADRID, January 25. The Republicans state they hope quickly to subdue the jnpparchist movement.

It is reported that ex-King Manool Is now at sea, and in Portuguese waters. FORCES. STILL NEEDED, LONDON, January 25th. The Allies War Council has decided to appoint a Committee to inquire as to the strength of the forces necessary to be maintained on the Western front during the pnf'ipd H ,c armistice.

FRENCH N,Z, MATCHED. LONDON, Jan, 25, The New Zealand Board of Football Control will probably accept the French Rugby Union’s invitation to meet France on Feb. 16th at Paris and on Feb. 23rd at Toulouse.

AMERICA IMPOUNDS GOLD. WASHINGTON, Jan. 24. Since the beginning of the war, the stocks of gold increased by $1,071,000,C3O, while more than two billion dollars’ worth of gold has been impoundel by the Federal Gold' Reserve Board. The Board states that the question as to the extent to which the gold standard can he maintained must he considered, The United iStat.es <it present has no intention of removing this current restriction against gokli exporting,

BRITISH GENERAL WORKERS. LONDON, Jan. 25. The British Federation of General Workers, at a special meeting held hi London, decided to demand a forty-four hour week all round.

SINN' FEIN ERS ESCAPE. (Received this day at 10 15 a.m.) LONDON, January 24. Three Sum Feiners including M : - gratli, a Commoner, escaped from an internment camp in England.

LEFT FOR LIBAU. (Received This Day at 10.35. a.m.) COPENHAGEN, January 24. The British cruiser Royalist and three torpedoers hav (; loft fop’ Lijjau.

GERMAN STEAMERS, LONDON, Jan, 25. It is reported that America gets all the German Lloyd steamers during the Armistice, for the repatriation cf troops. Britain secures a number of German passenger steamers to convey A ustra 1 ians hoinewa ret.

SHOCKING DISCLOSURES. OF BULGAR ATROCITIES. Reuter’s Telegrams (Received This Day at 9.15 a.m-) LONDON, Jan. 25. Official Serbian sources state the Commission investigating the outrages committed by Bulgarians in Scrvia, have brought to light appalling atrocities. The names of responsible officers have been secured. Aniong other crimes people were burned alive, women’s flesh was torn off with pincers, while others were flogged, tortured or raped. In another district, five hundred were stabbed to death with knives oi bayonets.

RAILWAY STRIKE. (Received this day at 9.25 a.m.) PARIS, Jan. 25. Underground railway and tramway employees have struck* Traffic is paialysed. Troops are guarding tlie stations. GOVERNMENT POSITION. ' PARIS, January 25." Government have decided to take ov w the underground railway and omnibuses of the city to prevent a. stoppage o. the service. PORTUGAL’S UPSET. , LISBON, Jan. 25. Forts and ivTi entrenched camp at Lisbon support tbe Republic.- All political prisoners except the murderer Paes have bene released. LABOUR WORKLESS. (Received This Dav at 9.25 a.m.) NEW YORK, Jan. 25.

Tlie Director of Labour estimates there are ten million workers in United States. He predicts a serious period of trade adjustment.

TURKISH POLITICS. (Received This Dav at 9.39. a.m.) CONSTANTINOPLE Jan 23. Government have resigned ns a result of a scandal concerning train contracts. TVwlik Pasha is reforming a Cabinet. The Committee of progress is exerting a baneful influence on the whole country, shielding those accused of the massacres and endeavouring to inflame an outbreak against the Armenians. Influential press is inciting similiar religious anil racal fanatcisni. Tlie outlook for Turkey is gloomy. Ihe people have not the faintest realisation of tin 1 present international situation. The evacuation of Caucasus is now complete, except at Kars. The British occupy Batoum and have joined hands with tho Baku forces. Bolshevist troops occupy Eadikavkni and adjoining district.

j AN ATHEISTICAL CAMPAIGN. (United Service Telegrams). (Received this day at 9.25 a.m.) 3 LONDON, Jan. 23. , Mr. IV. Jeffries states refugees from Petrograd say Bolsheviks are conducting an atheistical campaign. Fifty j churches were closed and church goers | are heavily taxed. Anti-clerical and j • anti-religious newspapers are estab- . lislied ontitled “Red Devil Times.” 1 BELGIUM’S GOLD. . I (Received This Day. at 9.25 a.m.) i BRUSSELS, Jan. 24. j , 0 A special train lias arrived frpui Germany with gold valued at 170 million francs, being specie stolen from Belgium during the war. I ROYALISTS FAIL. MADRID, Jan. 24. The Portuguese "Government announce that the Royalist agitation has been overcome, CLERGY’S REQUEST. (Received this clay at 9.25 a. ••.) [ BERNE, Jan. 24. Catholic clergy in southern Hungary are petitioning the Hungarian Church < Council to abolish celibacy, and to re-

admit to the priesthood those ecelesiastes whp married during the war. SOCIALISTS MOVE PQPENAHGEN, Jan. 24. Owing to the 'results of the German elections the Independent Socialists are summoning a conference to consider rejoining the Majority Socialists. 1,56 CASES QE INFLUENZA. MELBOURNE, This Pay, There are now 15(5 eases influenza in the city. OFF HOME. MELBOURNE, Jan. 27. Mr Pearce has departed for London, aboard flip Marpthon.

OBITUARY

(Received This Day at 10.35. a.m.) LONDON, January 24. Obituary-—William Hiblierdine, Trat

fie Manager of the Eastern Telegraph Coy. ITc was recently created an Officer T.B.E.