GENERAL WAR NEWS

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIII, Issue 49, 27 October 1915, Page 7

GENERAL WAR NEWS

United Phebs Association. Sydney, October 26. Mr Fisher replied to the King: “1 am confident your Majesty’s message will evoke a patriotic response m the Commonwealth and tend to augment greatly the ranks of the 169,000 Australians who have already provided an assurance of the hearty co-operation and determination of Australia to carry the war to a successful issue. New York, October 25. The American'publishes an interview with Herr Delbruck relative to the terms of peace Germany hopes to secure if President Wilson and the j’/ipe consent to act as mediators. The culminating passage ot the interview states that it is quite possible peace could bo secured by ceding to Germany such colonies as Uganda by England; the French and Belgium Congos as a ransom for the vacation of northern France, and Belgium would probably have to pay an indemnity to Germany, though Herr Delhi'tick thinks England ought to pay it. I Herr Zimmerman, German UuderSecreary for Foreign Affairs, in a message from Berlin states that the female sex, in law, has only one preference, namely, women in delicate condition, who must not be executed. Otherwise it is equal treatment for men and women. The evidence against Miss Cavell was so clear and convincing, and proved a well-con-sidered world-wide conspiracy, rendering nine months’ most valuable service to the enemy, that no court-martial in the world could have given any other decision. Several girls were among our Russian prisoners, and if these had been killed in battle the world would not have called us cruel. Heedless" of the world’s verdict wo must travel the hard road of duty. He denies that an officer shot Miss Cavell. The official report states that the execution was in accordance with the regulations, and the firing party did not fire faultily. The physician attending testified that death was instantaneous at the first volley. Constantinople, October 25. The death is announced of Baron von Wangenheira, who was German Ambassador and Minister at Athens for several years, when the Kaiser’s sister (Queen Sophia) gave him tremendous advantages for studying the position. General Wangeuheim went to Turkey in 1912 to frighten Turkey into an Austro-German alliance. He was this year transferred to Sofia and secured the Bulgarian alliance. Lisbon, October 2G.

The Government are arranging to receive British wounded from the Dardanelles and Serbia, and are preparing the necessary hospitals, Loudon, October 25. German guua captured at Loos will be placed to public view on the Horse Guards Parade after Wednesday. A correspondent says that all reports indicate that the health of the troops at the Dardanelles is improving.. The Anzac sick-lists are steadily decreasing, and when the new troops become seasoned, sickness should nearly disappear. Nine Liberal members in the House of Commons proposed the same motion for a select committee to deal with the position at the Dardanelles, while others demanded a debate. As the result of the trial at the Old Bailey, a British subject was sentenced to penal servitude for life for collecting and attempting to communicate to the enemy information regarding the forces and munitions. The German Government is considering a programme for the renewal of the male population. A meeting of the Prussian House of Lords suggested the abolition of the legal age ; assistance to the impecunious; State premiums for large families j also heavy taxes on bachelors and old maids. It is doubtful whether Mr Asquith will be sufficiently well to attend the

Commons before Thursday. It is expected that the House of Lords debate on the Salonika lauding and recruiting question in London will be more animated than any for months past. The National Liberal Club passed a. resolution praying the King to appoint a day for the Empire’s homage' to Miss Cavell’s memory. Great preparations are being made for a memorial service to Miss Cavell at St. j Paul’s. It is expected that -501) uni- ‘ formed nurses, the King,/Queen and Princess Mary will attend. j j The Times, in a leader, commenting on the victory of General Botha, says:, ! “He might well be able to come to London, where hi s experience and devotion to the welfare of the Empire 1 1 would be invaluable to the council., The reasons for similar visits of representatives from Australia and New 'Zealand are specially strong just 1 now. | “It is plain that with the appointment of Major-General Monro the enterprise at the Dardanelles, where the 'Australians have played so heroic a part, enters a new phase. We do not doubt that the force of these considerations is not lost on Mr Bonar Law. An Order-in-Council has been published abrogating Article 57, of the Declaration of London, whereby the merchant ship’s flag is the sole test of nationality, and substituting the 'old prize law. Experts opine that the I object of the order is to prevent tho traffic of many vessels trading under neutral flags, but which in reality are either wholly or partly German owned. The Anglo-American doctrine is now reinstated, which takes into consideration shipowners’ nationality and permits condemnation if the enemy s interest in the vessel is proved, irrespective of flag. It is expected the Germans will retaliate as lav as possible, including British owned vessels under the Scandinavian flag in the Baltic, though most of these are now leaving owing to the close of tho season.

Lord Cromer, writing to tiro Times, ways:—“Germany’s success against .Russia has induced King Ferdinand to join Germany. King Constantine ignores the Serbian treaty, and it is doubtful whether the most skilful displomacy could have availed. Recriminations are useless. We should grasp the situation as it stands. The Germans having failed against h ranee and Russia are now seeking to carry out the pan-Germanian programme prepared long bel'ire the war, namely, the establihiuent of a German Empire from the Persian Gulf to the Baltic. We shall make a great mistake if wo fail to recognise that the centre of gravity has temporarily shifted.” Lord Cromer doubts the efficiency of a Cabinet of twenty-two to grapple with the situation. The War Committee, he considers, would not do much by way of improvement, and some more drastic change is required. The Times’ correspondent at Rome states that the big Italian offensive is now at an important stage, and lor that reason Italy is unable to send troops to Salonika. Her whole weight must bo behind the blows to be given in the next few weeks. Colon?! Repingtou says the Allies allowed themselves to be surprised at the enemy’s offensive against Serbia. The transDanube advance began the moment Germany failed to reach a decision on the two main fronts. ' The chances of a successful German attack in the West were small, as tho 350 Germaubattalions which opposed the Allies in tho Artois and Champagne districts at the end of September were unable even to recover their lost trenches. The Russians were holding tho enemy on a front of 700 miles. Germany had now opened a fresh campaign. In the event of Germany junctioning with tho Turks, there was no reason to doubt our success, lor our position in Egypt*was very strong, and there was no point in the world at which it was easier to accumulate strength from Home, India aud Australia. Cairo, October 25. 'The Sultan has undertaken to raise half a million ttoops, in readiness for a Turkish attack.