AMERICA AND HOLLAND.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1793, 23 February 1918, Page 1

AMERICA AND HOLLAND.

There are 85 Dutch ships in American harbours with a carrying capacity of over 350,000 tons, all practically Interned for the present. They have loaded with cargoes totalling 150,000 tons of foo.dstuffs and an equal amount of catlie feed. Not one may sail for Europe. “Why?” asks the Chronicle’s New York correspondent. “America is detaining them because it refuses to recognise the remarkable agreement between Holland and Germany fixing the percentage of exports which shall go from Holland to the. Central Powers. Washington’s immovable decision is that no American fqodstuffs or foodproducing material shall be permitted Holland, or, indeed,,. any other neutral, while fats are entering Germany on the present basis. America takes the position that Holland cannot expect aid in feeding Dutch cattle to produce fats for Germany. While Holland clings to such an agreement in order to obtain coal and other commodities from Germany, she must depend on her own food resources.” ON THE BIRTH-RATE. Bir Bernard Mallet, the Regis-trar-General of Births and Deaths, shows (hat since the war began the population of the United Kingdom has increased by excess of births over deaths to such an extent as more than to counterbalance the whole of the losses of our armies in the field. On the other hand, the civil population of the Central Empires has steadily, and e?en rapidly, declined since tlie war began, and he estimates that this loss, added to the loss by deaths in the field, has reduced thp total population of the Central Empires by at least fourmillions. BLEEDING THE PILGRIMS. Pilgrims, devout Moslems, arrive in Palestine from all parts of the world to perform the Haj (pilgrimage), make their supplications to Allah in the Holy Sanctuaries of Mecca, kiss the Kaaba, and take part in other religious ceremonies. On arriving at the principal port, Jeddah, they were met post haste by hosts of purse-cutters, guides (practised scoundrels), and others, all keen on lightening the pockets of the pilgrims under all manner of pretences. The Turkish Government used to keep all the pilgrims in Mecca for a fortnight at least after the Haj, so that they might spend all their money there and go back penniless to their countries. All that has now been stopped. NEW GERMAN COMPLAINT.

One of the results of the restricted diet now enforced in Germany is a new disease due to malnutrition. This, jvhich is called an “oedema disease,” and is now very prevalent, is discussed in the Deutsche Medizinische.. 'Wochenschrift by four physicians who have been studying it. This disease manifeets itself by swelling of the feet and legs, sometimes of the hands, and often of the face. The |jlood is found to he watery. Rest in bed on ordinary hospital diet is followed by recovery, but this is very slow, STORY OF A PIG. Tirpitz, a pig with a history, was recently sold for the benefit of the Red Cross. Formerly be belonged to the German cruiser Dresden. During the Falkland Isles battle the Germans escaped to the shore after causing an explosion which sank the Dresden. Tirpitz was left to his fate, but on finding himself in the water ho struck out boldly, and an hour later was seen swimming near the Glasgow. Two sailors dived into the sea and brought him aboard. The sl%>’s company of the Glasgow awarded Tirpitz the “Iron Cross” for sticking to his ship after his shipmates had left, and he became a great pel on board It was decided to send Tirpitz home, but the regulations against swine fever caused difficulties over a landing; but a certificate from the captain of the Glasgow induced the authorities to pass a special order-in-council making the port at which he landed a place within the meaning of the Act, and Tirpitz was received at the gunnery establishment on "Whale Island. gMOKE AH TEST FOR GAS. Smokers can claim one use for their favourite vice. According to the Chicago Daily News, the man in the trenches who has a cigarette in his- mouth detects the presence of the new German-gas just a few seconds before his virtuous friend who shuns the weed. He has time to put on his gas mask, while his comrade drops unconscious with the poison.