Great Britain

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 18, 21 May 1915, Page 5

Great Britain

SHORTAGE OF MUNITIONS. THE TIMES IN DEFENCE. Times and Sydney Sun Service. (Received 8 a.m.) London, May 20. In the House of Commons, in reply to a question, Mr Tennant said the Times’ statement regarding the shortage of munitions was not presented by the Press Bureau in London. The Times comments on this and states that it is demonstrately false. The original telegram, with the deletions marked by the censor in red ink, was passed for publication. NATIONAL GOVERNMENT. THE DOMINION’S OPPORTUNITY. Times and Sydney Sun Service. (Received 8 a.m.) London, May 20. In the event of the formation of a National War Council representing all parties, it will, practically, be an enlargement of the Imperial Defence Committee. This is considered in Colonial circles to be an opportune moment to give the Dominions a direct voice in the conduct of the war and the subsequent peace negotiations. j THE SOUL OF BELGIUM, i RELIEF COMMITTEE’S REPORT. A PATHETIC APPEAL. Times and Sydney Sun Service. (Received 8.45 a.m.) London, May 20.

At a meeting of the Belgian National Committee of Relief, Mr. A. Shirley Benn (Unionist member for Plymouth), explained the committee’s work in Australasia, which, he said, had made a magnificent response, of which the Empire may well be proud. However, he said ho desired to allay the fears that Germans were receiving any of the foodstuffs, which were taken in barges flying the American Flag, to one hundred and twenty warehouses, and distributed to thirty-two thousand communities. It was possible to account for ■ the destination of every ton which was brought in, and the Germans scrupulously adhered to the agreement not to interfere. The committee desired to avoid humiliating charity and required the able-bodied to work for their bread. Fifty per cent of the population at Louvain, Mali nes, and other industrial centres were dependent on charity. As the result of the committee’s efforts and despite the economic paralysis in Belgium, there was no starvation. Madame Van der Velde said the Belgians had not lost their souls. She had just learned that eight hundred postmen in Brussels had refused to work for the Germans, and no railwaymen were working. Seven hundred and frtrty thousand men were idle and penniless, preferring poverty to working for the murderers. “Bodies conitaiuing those steadfast souls,” said .Madame, “must he kept alive.”

A SPY’S SUICIDE. KUEPFERLE’S CONFESSION. HIS DUTY TO HIS COUNTRY. United Press Association. (Received 10.30 a.m.) Loudon, May 20. The Gorman spy Kuepferle committed suicide by hanging himself by his scarf which was attached to a ventilator in Brixton prison. He left the following message on a slate; “I, a soldier, with a rank which I do not desire to mention, had a fair trial, but I am unable to stand the strain any longer. I would have preferred to be shot, hut 1 do not wish to ascend the scaffold.” A Masonic sign followed these words, and the letter concluded: ‘‘l cannot bo a liar or perjurer. 1 am not dying as a spy. but as a soldier. What I have done 1 have done for mv country.”