GENERAL WAR NEWS.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 348, 15 December 1915, Page 3

GENERAL WAR NEWS.

THE HORRORS OF RUHLEBEN. SICK SENT TO ASYLUM. AND HERDED WlftT INSANE. A DOCTOR WITH ONE NOSTRUM. LONDON, Decombetr 13. Littaur, a London picture dealer, has confirmed the allegations of the illtreatment of British interned at Ruhleben. He declares that those who are too ill to remain at the camp are sent to Dr. Weiler's so-called sanatorium. Weiler had a lunatic asylum at the same address, and many of the patients found themselves herded with the insane. The place was dirty and overcrowded, while the official inspections were a farce, since Weiler was alway s informed previously. Littaur says there were two doctors, one of them being incompetent while the other one nostrum for all ailments, many of these being of a serioug nature. The food consited of uneatable liver sausages, milkles stea, and weak soup, with blood sausages and sauer ktraut twice weekly and a lunch hash once weekly. THE ANCONA OUTRAGE. PUNISHMENT DEMANDED. FOR WANTON SLAUGHTER. WASHINGTON, December 13. ' The Note which is being sent to Austrai denounces the sinking of the Ancona a s an outrage, and the torpedoing of the ship before those on board were able to leave as wanton slaughter of defenceless noncombatants. It emphasises the gravity of the de«d, which the world has condemned as inhuman, barbarous, and abherent to all civilised nations. The Note says America expects, a. prompt disavowal on the part of Austria, with indemnity for American lives lost, and the punishment of those responsible. SITUATION; DELICATE. VERY NEAR BREAKING POINT. LONDON, December 1.'5. The "Daily Telegraph's" Washington correspondent states that the feeling in Government circles is that there as

strong probability of a break w-itH Austria unless her reply to the American Note on the sinking of the Ancona is prompt and satisfactory. It is now. admitted that the relations between Austria and Germany and Ameirica are strained, and held together by the slenderest diplomatic threads, the severing of which would not cause surprise. AUSTRIA EXPECTED TO REPLY. WITHIN A WEEK. LONDON, December 13. Reuter's correspondent at Washington says that it is understood thaiAmerica expects Austria to comply within a week to the demand for a prompt answer to the Note. TURKEY'S VANISHING SHIPS. ANOTHER TRANSPORT SUNK. IN THE SEA OF MARMORA. LONDON, December 13. A Turkish transport of 8,000 tons has been sunk by a submarine in the Sea of Marmora. An Athens report states that the transport was the Rechid Pasha, and that she was sunk by a French submarine. It is stated only seven Turkish transports are left. All the others have been sunk by submarines.