General News

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 302, 19 December 1914, Page 5

General News

SYMPATHY OF THE POPE.

OFFERINGS OF "PETER’S PENCE.

Tiurb and Sydney Sun Sseyiorb (Received 8 a..)

London, December 18

The Pope has written to the Archbishop of Malines deploring the condition of the Belgian people and the Royal Family. His Holiness says he will accept offerings of “Peter’s Pence” from Belgium at this sad moment.

(Peter’s Pence.—An annual tribute paid in former times to the Pope; said to have been at first a voluntary offering by Ina, King of the West Saxons, and amounting to a. penny a year levied on all families owning land of the annual value of thirty pence. The tax was continued down to the reign of Henry VIII., by whom it was abolished. It is still customary to call contributions sent to the Pope “Peter’,vPence,” but nowhere are such payments enforced to-day).

A PROPHECY FOR 1915.

GERMANY WIIIL BE TORN TO PIECES.

Tiurb anu Sydney Sun Seevioeb. (Received 8 a.m.) London, December 18. Madame Dethebes, the Paris prophetess, describes the year 1915 as full of tumults and splendors. The war should end between March and July. Italy will draw the sword. Germany will be torn to pieces through revolution. *.

DENMARK, NORWAY, SWEDEN.

TIMBB AND ByDNBY SILN SeRVICI*. London, December 18. Tho «Times, ip a leader commenting on the projected meeting of the Kings of Norway, and Sweden to consider the mitigation of their economic difficulties, N says: “We are anxious to prosecute the war with as little hurt to them as possible, but we deplore that, owing to the requirements of self-defence, we cannot avoid inflicting injury on them.” OVER THE ODDS. United Pbebb ’Association. Havre, December 18.. It is ascertained from a sure source that Germany to September Ist had issued double tho legally authorised amount of bank-notes. SHORTAGE OF CARTRIDGES. Copenhagen, December 18. It is stated on high authority that the Germans have only a fortnight’s supply of cartridges. A BIT PREVIOUS. GERMANY’S IDEA FOR THE FUTURE.

(Received 12.30 p.m.)

Paris, December 18

Le Matin reproduces stamps prepared in Berlin indicating that Switzerland would become part of the German Empire. (

"THE APPEAL TO RIGHT.”

The Hague, December 18

In the foreign affairs debate in the Second Chamber, Dr. Savornin Lehman, representing . the Historical Christian Party, denounced the doctrine that might is right in international affairs, and that the necessities of war justify the violation of neutrality. He added: “The whoie world is associating itself with Britain’s anpeal for justice against the invasion of Belgium.” Upon the President of the Chamber protesting against the remark, Dr. Lohman replied that lie was not saying on which side right lay, but that the appeal to right mec with general support. Herr Loudon supported the President’s intervention, emphasising that the belligerents understood the Netherlands’ position. Nevertheless, the Government’s duty was to he unceasingly vigilant.