THE WAR

Levin Daily Chronicle, 8 March 1917, Page 3

THE WAR

(Australia-New Kuaiant Cable Service*

RECRUITING IN ENGLAND. (London ,March 7. National Service organisers are arranging for a special rally to be made before voluntaryism closes at the end of March. Special exhortations will be made from all pulpits on March 24th. THiE POPE AND THE WAR. j London ,March 7. The Daiily Telegraph's Milan correspondent isays that -the Plope Was summoned a special Consistory to meet before 'Easter. It is believed that it will consider political aspects, and that the Pope will make an important pronouncement on the war, and particularly of his abhorrence of the mitfnitons submarine campaign waged with such barbarity, especially against neutrals. GERMAN EXULTATION 1 . Amsterdam, March 7. German newspapers gleefully refer to President Wilson's defeat, ■ and praise the so-called genuinely neutral senators. They declare that [President Wilson has little hope of securing the desired powers from the new Senate. GERMANS ON THE WEST FRONT. London ,March 7. A Headquarters correspondent on the west front says that the British are confronted with double the number of German divisions compared with a year ago, including what remains of the flower of the German corps.

(Router's Message.) GERMAN CRUELTY. Paris, March 7. The. French medico, Dr. Cresson, who was a prisoner in Germany for twenty-one months, and who was employed in organising a hospital for sick prisoners, tells an awful story of German cruelty. Invalid captives were isent from the front packed in cattle trucks, and naked except for a blanket. As the camp was shelterilesa they idug 'holes tin .the ground with _ plates to keep out the cold. Subsequently huts were constructed, but the food was so bad and searce that the men became in a shocking state owing to hunger and disease. Same Germans doctors frequently .used Russian prisoners for the purpose of experimental amputations. Dr. Oresson''protested, whereupon he was confined to a room bo small that he had to remain seated, while the ventilation was supplied from a barrred window that was opened only once in three days. Another refinement of cruelty was the forcing .of men of healthy nature to sleep in rooms full of typhus cases.

(Australia-New Zealand Serveie). THE BAPAUME REGION. London .March 7. "Ey e-"W!i tness,"' describing the evacuated ground in the Bapaume region, declares it ie impossible to. shut one's eyes to >the fact that the reason for the German retreat simply "was that the loss of life was too terrible. Our gunfire was unendurable. The horrors of the field are indescribable. He can vouch that our losseß in the winter were nothing remotely resembling those of the 'Germans.

A PAROCHIAL MATTER. iLondon ,March 7. The Progressives, who were allowed to nominate the next chairman of the London County Council, have chosen Earl Crewe, who has accepted the nomination. TREASURY RETURNS. The Treasury iretur.ns lor jeleven months show that the revenue estimate of £602,000,000 for the year will be exceeded by thirty millions.

CABINET RESIGNS. Stockholm, March 7. , Following a series of vigorous attacks on the Premier since January, Cabinet has resigned. The last incident was the reduction of the 'Government grant for the defence of neutrality. The consitution of the new Cabinet is uncertain. The King has been appealed to. (Received This Day 10.5 a.m.) IMPERIAL CONFERENCE. Melbourne,. This Day. In |the /House iof the Hon. Joseph Cook said that no public servant, no matter how; highly placed, could be considered as representative of Australia at the Imperial Conference. ,HOME RULE FOR IRELAND. The Senate has carried a motion by 29 votes to 2, that the Senate petition King George to grant Home Rule to Ireland. (Received This Day 9.55 a.m.) WOOL FOR ENGLAND. London ,March 7. The Hon. Mr Forster states that

the Shipping Controller proposes to facilitate wool imports for military

:;nd export purposes, but not tor unessential home consumption. It is expected that the tonnage needed for Australian food will appreciably reduce the shipments. He pointed out that other raw materials, for example timber and jute, already had suffered similarly.

! THE LOSS OF TILE SHARK. London ,March 7. A full account of the loss of the destroyer Shark in the Jutland battle, supplied by one of the survivors, shows that when nearly at the end of the engagement ten German destroyers and light cruisers came up and opened fire at a range of 600 yards. When Captain Jones's leg was blown off two seamen ran np with wood and a rope to stop the bleeding. Captain Jones asked them to leave him, but they replied, "We must do it for your good, sir." While one seaman adjusted the tourniquet Captain Jones sat on deck. Suddenly lie asked "iWhat's wrong with the ensign?" A seaman replied: "It's shot down, sir." Jones replied: "Hoist another!" A midshipman and seaman obeyed, and the captain remarked "That's good," and lie seemed content thereafter. When the Shark sank the survivors found a raft and hauled Captain Jones aboard.