Australia.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 5, 7 January 1915, Page 5

Australia.

THE ATROCITIES COMMITTED UPON THE BELCIANS. /[By Eleoteio Tblegbaph—CopybiqhtJ United Pbesi Association. (Received 9.40 a.m.) Sydney, January 7.

Mr Charles Brooks, who recently returned from. England, expresses surprise at the scepticism of the Australians at the German atrocities, ar.d says that when in England he saw with his own eyes Belgian girls rf'itu both hands chopped off, hundreds of men, women and children with the right forefinger hacked off, and hundreds of men and boys mutilated in a manner scarcely printable.

FORMATION OF NATIONAL RE-

SERVE.

Sydney, January 7

Mr Carmichael's proposal to lish a National Reserve is receiving* wide public support, including many ex-Imperial soldiers.

GENERAL. Sydney, 'January 6. Sir T. Coghlan has cabled the Premier that the American Ambassador at Berlin states that British colonial subjects are treated with greater consideration than other- Britishers, and their birth certificates are thus helpful.

Eighty-Eve Germans who surrendered at Herbortshohe are departing by the Sonoma on the 16th, the terms of the surrender stipulating that no obstacles should be placed in the, way of their returning to Germany at the earliest opportunity. Mr Hill, secretary or the New South Wales Rugby Union, states at least half of the State's Rugby Union players have joined the colors, and the union will have to thoroughly reorganise for next season. Swimming, boxing, cricket, and other forms of sport are heavily and daily being weakened by enlistment. The Government has referred the price of meat to the Commodities- Commission.

The Vacuum Oil Company is claiming £20,000 for alleged libel contained in an article published in the Age, headed '"Trading with the Enemy.'' Melbourne, January 6.

The military authorities are emharassed owing to a considerable number of married'men'having enlisted as bachelors, and gone to the front without making provision for their wives and families.