General News

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 1, 2 January 1915, Page 5

General News

United Pheb* Association. London, December 31. The Archbishop of Canterbury addressed a New Year letter to the clergy and laity. It says; “The wellbeing, nay, the very life, of the Empire may depend upon the response to the call for men. No household is acting worthily if timidity or self-love keeps back those able to loyally bear a man’s part in the great Empires' behalf, and for the land we love. Even, out of the agonies and terrors of waff something better and holier than man has yet seen for the fellowship of na-; tions may emerge.” ■ The Government rate for war risks on cargoes has been reduced to a guinea. All aliens on the east coast of Scotland have been ordered thirty miles inland.

The Times, in a leader, says:“We have now reached a stage in the when, according to Berlin the triumphant Prussians would rest upon their arms and contemplate sf« prostrate and affrighted world. It is instructive to compare these glowingdreams with stern reality. The Allies are maintaining their positions. The Germans have made no useful progress. The time is fast approaching when the Austrians will cease to be an important factor in the war. TheRussians are well within Turkish territory. The situation in East Africais growing favorable. The South A Lacan revolt has been crushed. The Genman Hag has almost been driven from the seas.” ; Amsterdam, January 1.

Lonsdale, a prisoner of wa* at r,h*> Doerberitz camp, who was recently sentenced to ten years’ imprisonment for assuming a threatening attitude, and refusing to obey the guard, was retried hy the Supreme court-martial for aggravated assault, and to death. He intends appealing to the Imperial court-martial.

Timm and Stun»t Sun Rbbviom. London, January 1. A French eye-witness, describing the events of December 24th, says the operations were terribly difficult. Ihe liquid and cold mud invaded the breeches of the guns, so that they were no longer able to fire them, and they had to fight with the butt-ends, also with their fists. He says our have become blocks of mud. TheiJ unalterable good humor, however, enjj aides them to endure with the besi possible grace the rough life and severe winter cold. «

The Germans seized an aeroplane fad| tory in a suburb of Antwerp for mam|l facturing Farman biplanes, and alsA seized a shipyard to carry on sutxf marine work, which they were force 4. to abandon at Zeebrugge. A German officer from the Yser deft; dares that men are falling in thousi ands. He is convinced that German™ will never succeed there, but she caii-i not yield, because the morale of thuj troops would v suffer too much. ■ Hermann Blass, an Austrian, when court-martialled at Douglas, pleaded* guilty to writing a letter in lemonjuice, ■ which, when heated, disclosed! Ids complaint that the German prisoners were treated like dogs, the food was bad, there were worms in the potatoes, and the meat stank frightfully, while they were also driven about with bayonets like convicts. Sentence was deferred.

The Christmas post for the soldiers at the front consisted of million letters and half a million parcels. London, December 31.

Petrograd reports that the German attempt towards Warsaw was never the principal movement, but was intended to divert the Russians, who were threatening Cracow. The German movement temporarily succeeded, but the Russians in front of Warsaw have now broken the German advance. Critical issues are again approaching. A correspondent at Nairobi describes the country through which the enemy is forcing his way upon the Uganda as a desert, covered with thorny scrub, so thick in places that an officer is unable to control more than a dozen men. This wild country is infested with lions and leopards and the dreaded tze-teze fly. Through it we are now taking an active offensive. The campaign is likely to be long and trying. The Germans are certain to defend their best country with all their might. Amsterdam, December HI. Reports state that the Kaiser’s celebration of Christmas was as simple as it was impressive. The table, set for 900, was decoratted with fir branches. Officers, down to the humblest reservist, shared the spiced cakes, apples, and nuts, and also received tobacco, pouches, and cigars. The Kaiser, entering, said: “Good evening, comrades.” The pastor spoke brieflly, and anthems were sun.g The Kaiser said: “God has permitted the enemy to compel us to celebrate the festival here upon hostile soil. We are attacked. We defend ourselves. God grant that from the hard struggle a rich victory may arise for us and our country. The point of our sword is turned to the enemy, but our heart is turned to God. To dust with all the enemies of Germany.” Germans have seized bows and airows in Belgium, owing to the discovery that the arrows have been used to shoot letters across the Dutch i frontier. | The newspaper' Hot Volk states that a million trained reserves are •ready in Germany, a portion whereof 1 have been sent to the Russian front. A million fresh recruits have been en. rolled.