WESTERN BATTLEFIELD.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 290, 23 September 1915, Page 5

WESTERN BATTLEFIELD.

FRENCH AERIAL ACTIVITY. (Reed 10.50 a.m.) PARIS, Sept. 22. A communique states that eight aviators effectively bombarded the station at Conflans. A YACHTSMAN’S SUGGESTION ADMIRALTY COMMUNICATED WITH. " (Reed 10.50 a.m.) LONDON, Sept. 22. .Mr Marks, the Sydney yachtsmna, who is in England, speaking of patpol work in tile North Sea i s of opinion that an opening exists for a naval volunter reserve of competent yachtsmen and motor boat engineers, whose services would be of much value. He i s communicating with the Admiralty on tjhe subject. TRENCH GAINS PREVAIL. CANAL DOCK DESTROYED. AMSTERDAM, Sept. 22. A German communique admits that the French batteries shot to fragments a lock on the Marne-Aisne canal, to the north-west of Eheims, and compelled the Germans to evacuate the position during the night. FRENCH ARTILLERY EFFECTIVE. PARIS, Sept. 22. A communique states:— We silenced, several of the enemy’s batteries in the Argonne andthe Woevre. We destroyed a blockhouse in the Forest of Apremont, and damaged a train at. Thiancourt. We broke down works for long-range guns capable of shelling the districts of Nancy and Luneville.

Nineteen aeroplanes bombarded Beiiedorf. A hundred bombs seriously damaged the buildings and stationary trains. ENEMY ARTILLERY BUSY. ..."'.s NINE AIR COMBATS. .' ;, ' LONDON, Sept. 27. Sir John French reports that enemy artillery increased • inactivity on our front in the past two days. We effectively replied. On the 20th, part of the forest at liouthulet was ignited, our artillery causing a big explosion.

On the 19th there were nine air combats and two hostile aeroplanes were driven to the ground the German lines. One fell enveloped in flames entirely, and the engine of the oilier was -afire.

•NEW GERMAN RAILWAY. ■ AMSTERDAM, Sept. 21. The Germans are vigorously pushing forward a new railway night and day, between x\ix la Chapelle and Brussels, via the Vise. It is practically a straight line, ' regardless of private property, and natural obstacles. ' ’ GALLIPOLI'S STORY. A FEAT THAT STIES THE BLOOD. LONDON, Sept. 22. The Mail comments on Sir lan Hamilton’s despatch, ,and says: That the Australians, New Zealanders, the Naval Division, and the men of. the 29th Division should, under such circumstances, have been able to land and wage war for months, beating back every assault and gaining ground, is a feat which stirs the blood. Antiquity has bo more glorious story, and our own annals nothing braver. TURKS REINFORCING. ATHENS, Sept. 22, The Turks are sending urgent reinforcements to the Dardanelles, The railways of Thrace are wholily occupied with the transport of troops. ANOTHER ASSURANCE. ON PIRACY QUESTION. GERMANY STILL PROTESTS. (Times and Sydney Sun Services). LONDON, Sept 22, The Washington correspondent of the Associated Press publishes a long statement by Herr on Jaigow (German Foreign Minister) regarding the submarines. The report states that enemy passengetr ships wer e not subjected to attack without warning. Precise "’and definite instructions were issued to the commanders of submarines. The German Government hoped that there would be no future difficulties with America over the submarine question. The Government would gladly enter into and (hoped that America would arbitrate an 'j*egs(rd to ; the sinking of the Arabic. The re- ; pclrt states that Berlin’s present policy Is approved by tlho Kaiser.

BRITISH BUD3HT. 1 ! to stop lux ,7?. LONDON, Sept. 21. Mr McKenna, dn his Budget speech, said that dealing with, imports which might properly be restricted by duties for reasons of foreign exchange and the Restriction of luxury. Mr McKenna proposed an ad valorem duty of 33 l-3rd per cent on motcß cars, motor . cycles, cinema films, clocks, watches, i musical instruments, plate glass, and , hats > yielding £1,950,000 a year. ' Changes in the post office and telegraph rates would yield an increase of £4,975,000. The total additional revenue from customs and excise for the present year would be £25,000,000, and the total new taxation £102,155,000, and the total new taxation £lo,', I 155,000 a yerfr. I | The Retrenchment Committee had adopted a suggestion for the abolition of the half-penny postage with a re duction of the weight of hit tors C£r-| ried, a penny higher on the scale of the parcels post, an increase on inland telegrams and pres s telegrams, increased poundage on postal orders, and higher telephone charges. MrMcKenna said the country Would tlreble its debt and double its taxation, and if the war continued, his proposals would not be the ast word. He urged increased personal economy. n VARIOUSLY CRITICISED. LONDON, Sept. 22. Mr Chapling said h e wag glad the increases were mostly in Customs duties. All classe would willingly (urtribute, remembering that it was lor their country, home and England. (Applause.) Mr Banbury said that if too heavy a burden was laid on the wealthy it would involve difficulty in getting loan money. Excessive taxation was certain to cripple industries. He was tempted to propose a tax on excessive wages, the same as on manufacturers’ war profits. One reason for tfhe present ‘great expenditure was that the Government “paid through the nose” for everything. Mr Houston said it was possible that a man with £100,009 nominal income after the war profits and super-taxes, might become a minus quantity, FREE TRADE SCRAPPED. Mr Lough complained that the Government wa s giving fictitious and exaggerated figures as to the cost of the war. The House was entitled to an explanation as to Mr Asquith’s prediction that the cost would reach five millions per day. Mr Tim Healey said that the present state of affairs sowed that Free Trade was a fetish and was dead. The bottom had fallen out of Free Trade. Mr Nothardy declared that a farmer must have capital if he was expected to respond to the appeal to increase his production. The Hon. McKenna replied that agricultural profits were not taxed. Mr Butcher congratulated the Government on the proposals to raise a gigantic revenue with reasonable fairness to all • classes.

Mr Outhwaite said a striking feature was that the Free Trade policy had been scrapped. He believed vhe taxation of imports was a sop thrown to the Tariff Reformers in the Cabinet. The vast revenue in commercial land was not touched. It mist tv tar.nl in the future or go towards Protection.

The Hon. McKenna, in answering a question, saiid it was obvious that u ly a small part of tha deficit could te met by taxation. They mint borrow on a future occasion. It iv-is al ot reduce the impo.ts, because ~e could not increase our exports, as ou,r own capital and labour were othehwis e engaged, We could not do too much taxation without interfering with that on which th e export trade depended. Resolutions embodying the Budget were agreed to unopposed. Then were some . Radical protests on the tea and . sugar duties. The House then adjourned. ■ “ PIG, BOLD BUDGET.” PRESS COMMENTS. LONDON, Sept. 22. The newspapers describe it as a big, bold Budget. The “Daily Chronicle” regrets the absence of a war tax on all letters, and a small weekly tax on wages collected through the employers. The chief difficulty is the increase in the tobacco duty and the price of cheap packets of cigarettes, lit is quest! 11 .'j o whether It is possible to vetiil five cigarettes for a penny. The trade f.:rs that tjhe abolition of mi 3 ha fpw ~y postage will kill the picture postcard craze. The duty on cinematographs applies to 80 per cent of the films shown, of which 00 per cent, ape American. This should result in considerable exploitation by English firms, but rasv jbo met by n. general increase in the prices of admission.

The Labour party meet to-morrow ter discuss the Budget, Some object to the tea and sugar duties and the lowering of the income tax exemption. GET OUT OF CONSTANTINOPLELONDON, Sept 22. Reports from Athen s state that theOttoman authorities have advised civilians to quit Constantinople. The exodus has already begun, and the rich quarters at Pera and Galatea have been denuded. The greatest misejry prevails among the poor, especially at Stamboivl. ALLIES’ AERIAL ACTIVITY. ORGANISED BOMBING PARTIES. The High Commissioner reports, u«-_ der date London, September 22nd: - * Abies aviators bombarded enqrnv? cantonments at a *-- train between Bruges and Thorou. _ A STOup of eight aeroplanes effectively bombed the railway station afe Conflans, on the line from Verdon ta Metz.

A CLEVER ROSE. HOW SUVA WAS STAKED. LONDON, Sept 22, An incident i s related t:hat when the Scharnhornst and Gneismau were cruising .in the neighbourhood of hiji m early in the war, Sir E. B. Swe >t Iscott. Governor, who is now in EngUitd„ by a clever ruse, prevented an attack by sending a wifeless, “Patoy, Australia, received message, expect you i rt morning.” The German cruisers picked it up and altered their cour-,?. Subsequently a letter of a German naval officer showed that the wireless had caused the c*miser s to change their plans, sparing Suva,

A NATIOiV DESTROYED. TURKEY SEIZES OPPORTUNITY. LONDON, Sept. 22. The Press Bureau states that a French official communication confirms the fact that the Turks took advantage of their opportunity to completely destroy the Armenian nation. Armenians have been forced to.evacuate all towns and villages in Asm Minor, and have deported to Arabian. Mesopatamia all Armenians in Coitstantinople. Lawyers, doctors, and professors have been systematically exiled, and their goods confiscated. Germany, although momentarily all powerful in Turkey, has dene nothing’. DOMINION TO BE CONSULTED. IN MATTER OF WAR. (Reed 10.50 a.m.) LONDON, Sept. 22. Mr Lonsdale, in the House, asked whether the Government intended taking the Dominions into its confidence regarding the war. Mr Bonar Law said: We are in continual communication with the Governments of self-governing on matters connected witfh the wart If Premiers were able to visit England the Government would welcome the opportunity of discussion similaJr that with Mr Borden, Premier of Canada. » Mr Harcourt stated that the Government were effecting economies in offices and works, repof-esnting a quarter of a million this year and half % million next year.