GENERAL WAR NEWS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 51, 27 September 1916, Page 2

GENERAL WAR NEWS.

M! K ADO’S ENVOY WELCOMED. Press Association—Copyright. Reuter’s Telegrams Petrograd, September 20. The Rikado’s envoy arrived at the Imperial Headquarters and was received with the highest honors. Speeches at the luncheon dealt with the Russo-Japanese relations. Ihe Czar paid a tribute to the services of the Japanese Government regarding the munitioning of the Russian army. PRICES OF CEREALS IN RUSSIA. Press Association—Copyright, Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. Petrograd ; September 25. The prices of cereals throughout Russia have been officially fixed. DECREASE IN CRIME. London, September 20. - The prisons report shows that in 1915 the prisoners sentenced were 64,000, compared with 114,000 in 1914. The decrease is ascribed to the enlistment of habitual petty offendei s and the liquor restrictions. EFFECTIVENESS OF BLOCKADE.

Press Association—Copyright Reuter’s Telegrams

Amseretain, September 25

Herr Helfferich (Imperial Treasurer), speaking to a representative trade deputation, admitted the effectiveness of the blockade. He added: “None can deny that we suffer heavily from the economic war, and greater sacrifices and deprivations await the people.” The Cologne Gazette admits that small investors, especially farmers, are not subscribing to the war loan as formerly, fearing national bankruptcy. GERMAN OFFICERS’ PAY DECREASED. Amsterdam, September 26. An Imperial decree decreases all German officers’ pay from Uctobei. The War Minister and Coramander-in-Chief will lose £SO a month, generals £3B 10s, and divisional commanders £7 10s 3d. Diplomatic circles state that Hei i von Jagow resigns the Foreign Secretaryship owing to ill-health. ' V.C. HONORS. Press Association—Copyright, Austra lian and N.Z. Cable Association.

London, September 26. A thirty page Gazette of honors inludas Sergeant Claude Charles Castleton, of the Australian MachineGun Company, who receives the \ ictoria Cross for conspicuous gallantry under the following circumstances During an attack on the enemy trenches the infantry were temporarily driven back by intense machinegun fire. Many of the wounded were left on No Man’s Land, lying in shell holes, and Castleton went out twice, in face of intense fire, and brought a wounded man in on his back. He w,as bringing in a third when he himself was hit in the back and killed instantly. He set a splendid example of courage and self-sacrifice. There are eleven other recipients of Victoria Crosses, including Private Albert Hill, of the Welsh Fusiliers who surrounded twenty of the enemj attacked them with bombs, killed or wounded a number and then fought his way back to the British lines.