A CLIMAX EXPECTED

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 8, Issue 22, 27 January 1916, Page 5

A CLIMAX EXPECTED

ON THE WEST FRONT TO-DAY THE KAISER'S BIRTHDAY INCREASED GERMAN ACTIVITY THE FERDINAND-KAISER BANQUET WILHELM CONTINUALLY COUCHED A CRISIS IN GREECE ** m mii Hi mi TO FAVOUR THE ENTENTE

EMARKABLE JOURNALISTIC ACHIEVEMENT. VISER-FERDINAND BANQUET. t B'RILLIANT DESCRIPTION. rHE KAISER'S CONTINUOUS COUGH. (Reed. 9.30 'a.m.) LONDON, January 26. he Daily Mail claims for its cortondent one of the most remarki journalistic achievements during war. He twice visited Constanple, penetrated Asia Minor, was of four®reporters present at the auet King Ferdinand gave the Kaiat Nish, which is now a vast aril, especially with respect to big 3, an<j ammunition. All large ;es have been turned into hospiOne munition train included nuous trucks loaded with Pokker iplanesTV The correspondent wited almost diminufigure beside the massive figure ;he hawk-nosed Ferdinand, who a curious ducklike waddle. ie Kaiser's face looked like that tired, broken man. His hair is ;e, though his moustache is susjusly dark. There is an 'absence ie quick, nervous, wheeling about :h was so noticeable in 1908. The ;er perpetually used a huge red dsh handkerchief, which had on a embroidered star and crescent, :h was necessary v to 'assuage alt continual coughing. He spent 3 time in coughing than in eating. Llkenhayn, who also attended the luet is of alert movement and the onification of vigour, vivacity and ity, bearing well the strain of his lendous responsibility. He looks lger than his years.

GREECE'S ATTITUDE. fTCZELOS' OPPONENT DEAD. ATHENS, Jan. 26. ituary.—M. Theotokis, the chief ent - of M, Venizelos 's policy. M * CRISIS PREDICTED. -ENTENTE PARTY EXPECTED BY GERMANY. (Rec. 1.45 a.m.) AMSTERDAM, Jan. 26. rnian newspapers predict a Greek *et crisis, resulting in the return Gournaris to power with a proce policy. • THE HUNS IN SERBIA. AISER PROMISES AS KING nS SON OR AN AUSTRIAN PRINCE. HEROIC EX-MINISTERS. PARIS, Janu'ary 25. ie newspaper "Petit Parisieu" ;s that the Germans have requestle Serbian ex-Ministers to convoke w skupstiva. The Kaiser has prod it, and appoint one of his sons n Austrian Prince as King. The despite the worst it as toMheir is unpn. Germany i&; not allowing ody to leave Serbia.

AN AUSTRIAN SUCCESS. (Rec. 1.35 a.m.) ROME, January 26. The Austrians .have occupied San Giovanni and Meoua. THE FALL OF LOVTCHEN. t DEFENDED BY SMALL FORCE. FIGHTING AGAINST HEAVY ODDS 'LONDON, Jan. 25. The French correspondent, M. Naudeau, telegraphs to his journal from P(--trograd denying that the Montenegrin army at Lovtchen numbere" 35;000 of that 30,000 ' Serbians . had helped to defend Lovtchen. Only 5,800 Montenegrins occupied the mountain, and they had four old 12inch guns recently purchased from Italy, and six old Russian guns which were without shells. The Montenegrins were unable to obtain help from any quarter. Antivari was open to bombardment from Austrian warships, which were able to bombard Lovtchen. The Montenegrins could not wait for help any longer, as an eigth of the population had died from famine. They had 33 field guns with only 30 shells apiece, the rifles were out of repair and had only 120 rounds each, the men wer<J worn out, also their boots and clothes. Of 70,000 men available at the outset of the campaign, only 15,000 are left. They are half-starved, and are fighting against odds of 20 to 1. PREMATURE. REJOICINGS. LONDON, Jan. 25. The Gei'man press finds it difficult to explain the position in regard to Montenegro, in view of the fact that the schools of the empire" were given a holiday to hear lectures entitled "Montenegro's Separate Peace."

HARD NUT FOR AUSTRIANS. ROME, Jan. 26. A few thousand Montenegrins and Serbians made a desperate battle near Podgoritza and held up two Austrian divisions. The enemy *s losses were enormous. The Austrian vanguard advancing towards Scutari has now been checked. DOMINION LINER SUNK. LONDON, January 25. The Dominion liner Norseman has been sunk. THE NORSEMAN BEACHED. ALL ABOARD RESCUED. (Reed. 10.30 a.m.) LONDON, January 26. The Norseman was beached and all hand s rescued. THE, LUSITANIA. AMERICAN-GERMAN NEGOTIATIONS STILL CONTINUING. : (Reed. 10.30 'a.m.) WASHINGTON, January 26. Bernstorff has made further concessions .regarding the Lusitania, but he lias: not disavowed the crime. President Wilson has rejected his latest proposal for settlement. As, however, thf proposal is partially satisfactory negotiations continue.

STRANGULATING GERMANY'S FEEDER LINES. A DECLARED BLOCKADE FAVOURED. ANTI-BRITISH IRRITATION IN SCANDINAVIA. SCOFFING REFERENCES IN GERMAN PRESS. (Times and Sydney Sun Services). LONDON, January 25. Mr. Garvin, the well known London journalist, writing in the "Observer," remarks that Sir Edward Grey's repudiations of the charge that the Foreign Office has been practically feeding the Germans, has not settled the public conviction that more strangulation measures 'are possible. Naval opinion on both sides of the Atlantic is agreed now that it is practicable to replace the illegal Orders-in-Council by a declared and regularised blockade. Other publicists point out that victory is more 'and more dependent upon naval strangulation. Copenhagen declares that the legality of the Orders-in-Council was never admitted in Denmark, but they were accepted calmly, because Britain's war necessities were understood. If, however, the trade agreements should fail there would be a reversal of public opinion against England. Evil forebodings are general in Christiana, opinion, especially in industrial circles, being bitter anti-Bri-tish. The control of the seas is thought to be too arbitrary in view of the fact that no goods are in transit to Germany. The Customs and police keep the closest watch and enforce the prohibitions against export by confiscation, fine, and imprisonment. Stockholm reports that Swedish industry has already suffered through the dearth of raw materials. Owing to v the lack of sulphate some cf the paper mills 'are closing down. The proposed tightening of the blockade is bitterly discussed, and the suggestion cf putting the nation on rations i s regarded as impracticable and humiliating. The figures showing the increase of Swedish imports are declared to be exaggerated and are due to the import for home necessities from the United States instead of from belligerents.

The German Press is pretending to scoff at the blockade. The Munich "Neuste Nachrichten" has suggested that the tightening, like the blockade itself, is mere humbug. The "Cologne Zeitung" declares: "First the English tried to make u s buy goods we did not need with a view to helping to force us to bankruptcy, and now she is trying to starve us altogether. Each course is a plain futility."

SWEDEN'S NEUTRALITY. INDUSTRIAL INCONVENIENCE. ■ THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY. AND A SOCIALIST WARNING. STOCKHOLM, January 25. The debate on the Budget is proceeding in both Houses. In the Riksdag, the Liberal Leader declared that the people demanded a policy of unreserved neutrality. H.err Trauting, the Socialist Leader.sa id that he feared that in the future Sweden would be unable to maintain a firm neutrality. The Premier urged that it was impossible to doubt the policy of the Government, which was sincerely neutral, consistently adhering to the principle of co-operating for common objects with other neutrals,;- especially with Denmark and Norway. The Government's efforts had largely succeeded. The present grouping of the Powers would not be lasting. It was possible that in the future a belligerent might regret tearing up treaties and violating international laws for the sake of a doubtful temporary advantage. He added: "If we had insisted less on strict commercial neutrality we might have lessened our industrial inconveniences, although these are no more than those of other neutrals." -. Herr Trauting complained that the Premier's speech was obscure with regard to his neutrality policy. Reasonable compromises were needed. "We must not allow ourselves to be driven to extreme," he declared, adding, "Although the Premier said that the Government's aim was peace, we must remember that it might be impossible to maintain that policy despite all efforts." NEW TERROR OF THE SEA. POISON GAS USED. BALTIC SEA LNCIDENT. COPENHAGEN, January 25. Two German destroyers by means of suffocating gas enveloped ike Lambert and endeavoured to force her.out of territorial waters off Fulsterbo. A Swedish warship drove o£ the stressors.

THE LAX BLOCKADE. LONDON, January 26. { Lord Headley, speaking in London, | said the nation was dissatisfied at the \ Foreign Office not backing the Navy, I and apparently attempting to inter- ' fere and lessen our sea-power. He cited recent neutral statistics as proof of over-squeamishness towards the Huns. MEANT FOR GERMANY. LONDON, January 25. Fifteen cases,, labelled "Hammers," , were seized on the Swedish steamer Varna, bound from America to Copenhagen. They contained copper, brass, and aluminium fillings. Sixty-nine postal parcels were seized aboard the Dutch steamer Gelrha. They contained 400 revolvers consigned to Co- / penhagen 'and Amsterdam by Spanish j firms. « I INCREASED GERMAN ACTIVITY. | ON THE WEST FRONT. ; A CLIMAX EXPECTED ON THE KAISER'S BIRTHDAY. Reed. 9.30 a.m.) PARIS, January 26. Greater German activity in the iWest is being, shown in bombardment "and occasional attempts to attack ;which are expected to reach a climax on the Kaiser's birthday, on Thursday. THE BLACK FLAG. LINER TORPEDOED. _____ : , TO DECOY TRANSPORT.

A woman survivor of the Japanese liner Ya.saka Marn ■ (10,932 tons) which was torpedoed and sunk by a submarine on December 24, says:— '•'No warning was given. The boat:.were skilfully lowered, the Japanese, who were, splendid, putting the pas-

sengers into the first. The ship sank in 15 minutes, bow first. There was a dull explosion and much smoke ami fire, from the funnels. The stern .stucl< out for a long while, and then plunged into the calm sea.

"We saw a periscope watching the scene close by. Th c officers thought the Yamsaka Mar'u was torpedoed in order to decoy transports which were passing close by. Mercifully, none of them stopped. "The Japanese captain, who was the last saveti, commanded that the boat fleet should be roped together. A rocket answered our distress signals, and at night time-a tiny French patrol boat rescued us. When we reached port all the warships manned their yards, in our honour, and their crews sang the Japanese National Anthem."

THE BLOCKADE. IMPEACHMENT OF EFFECTIVENESS.' ; (Reed. 9.30 'a.m.) LONDON, January 26. The Press Bureau have issued a reply by the War Trade Department to the Daily Mail articles, alleging the blockade to he ineffective. The Daily Mail's information was derived from the Danish paper "Bovsen." A comparison of the cargo lists published in the Borsen with the official lists of B'ritain indicates defects by including consignment to Norway and elsewhere. Arrangements were made months ago with Danish ships whereby articles destined for the prize court should he 'allowed to proceed to Denmark on the undertaking they would be returned to Britain, or in some cases held in Denmark until the end of the war. This was necessary owing to the goods being often at the bottom of the holds, necessitating entire unloading.. The Borsen - included the whole of these cargoes and, therefore, it is easily realised with two such great sources of error that the Daily Mail figures are much inflated, in nearly all cases calculating per centages in excess by one hundred per cent. There is no reason to suppose the official figures & re incorrect. The reply then deals with the figures of the Morning Post's New York correspondent, which declares it is incorrct not to agree with the American trade.returns, and says the implication is made that the increase of quantities exported from America have filtered into Germany, but tlie fact is that neutral European countries in normal times obtain great supplies from Germany and Russia is overlooked. It adds that the American figures overlooked the goods unloaded in England and placed in the Prize Courts. The report generally denies and minimises the figures. THE PERSIA PIRATE. WASHINGTON, .Tan. 25. The JState Department, upon learning that both BeTiij? and' -Vienna, deny" that it was a Gielriaan or■ an Austrian submarine that sank the Pe.sia, intend to ask Turkey if she is responsible. If Turkey admits ?jeing responsible, a ISTcte will! bo sent to Gonstanti-

1 THE COMPULSION BILL. ( ' FURTHER MEASURES .SUGGESTED. LONDON. January 2G. In the House of Commons, speaking on the Military Service Bill. Lord Haldane said he. thought the Government might have to go farther and make appeals to married men and to Ireland. He doubted whether it would be possible to introduce compulsion permanently, but while India and the Dominions were unable to provide their own defence it was necessary to raise a professional army for that purpose.

COMPULSION IN BRITAIN. BILL BEFORE THE LORDS. SECOND READING CARRIED. INTERESTING DISCUSSION. LONDON, Jan. 2G.

Lord Lansdowne, on the second reading of the Military Service Bill, said it was based on expediency rather than on principle. It was recommended by an unanimous Cabinet, and almost an unanimous House of Commons. Th;>re was no nevcl to apologise for the homeopathic dose of compulsion. Doubtless, weakening the industrial army meant .weakening the financial position, and a diminution in the power to give th' e Allies assistance for which they naturally relied upon us. As matters stood we wore not wholly masters of the situation. It was distinctly of interest to industry that We should emerge victoriously, but also that tiro victory should not be too long delayed. The Government had -endeavoured to hoM the balance as fairly as possible between the army and the Commons. He regretted that Ireland had not claimed the right of inclusion. Lord Midleton regretted that the Government had not shown more courage, and spread the net a little wider. He asked whether the course of the war had not marred the Government's progress on the line of the least resistance. Those associated with him had great difficulty in considering the course they should adopt, but eventually decided not to attempt to amend the Bill, but to leave the responsibility with the Government.

Lord Derby said that 650,000 single men were not accounted for in his report—this was the minimum number. Until they, were accounted for it would have been perfectly impossible to fulfil Mr. Asquitk's pledge. Married men were coming in in large numbers. The single men were larger in proportion than the married men, but not to an ■extent to justify anyone in thinking that the number left still was a negligible quantity. He was more frigbt- y ened of the Government than the tribunals in reducing the number available .Since the report was issued four lists of reserved occupations had been issued. He could not help being apprehensive when he knew that ? hundred thousand badges were issued in four days when the Bill was introduced. He feared that many fish would escape the net. but mow he thought there was less danger of escape. It would have been of no avail to introduce industrial compulsion in the guise of a Military Service Bill. Htf believed that the Bill would meet the emergency. It would not make a great industrial disturbance, but would be worked so as to bring the men to the army as required and as industry could spare them. He believed it would be impossible for the government to frame a .Bill more simply carrying out its pledges and more fully pteeting the requirements of the military authorities. Viscount Haldane ._ said ho did not think the Bill trenched on any large principles. The Government wisely icstricted it as far as possible. Lord Russell opposed it on the ground that compulsion would dimmish, the country's glory. The Archbishop of Canterbury whole-heartedly supported it. He believed it was, plain, vigorous, and straightforward, and it would meet an extraordinary difficult situation. Lord Curzon said that no on? would like to see a permanent measure moi-e than himself, but obviously it was out of the question. It would revolutionise the whole system in thc middie of a great war, and force upon the country a general system of compulsion. The Bill was read a second time. A WISE RESOLVE. LONDON, Jan. 26. The Miners' Federation'' Congress at Bristol resolved nut to do anything to hamper the Government during the war. ENTERTAINING SOLDIERS. (Reed. 8.30 a.m.) - LONDON, January 26. • At a meeting at 'the Mansion, House, the Lard Mayor presiding, Lena Ashwell appealed to Australasia i'or assistance- to continue concerts in the hospitals at the front, especially for a concert party going to M?M% and

GREAT LABOUR CONFERENCE. RESOLVE TO SUPPORT GOVERNMENT IN CARRYING ON THE WAR. IF GERMANY WON NOTHING ON GOD'S EARTH MATTERED. (Reed. 9.30 a.m.) LONDON, January 26. Mr. Anderson, M.P., who is presiding at the Labour Conference at Bristol, representing 2,093,365 members, said a militarist democracy cannot live together with Germany anwhere. There were signs of a reaction in Britain. Mr. Lloyd George vould like to see rules cf the army apply to the workshop, but had not been very successful in hi s attempt, through the Munitions Act. The Service Bill had not redeemed Mr. Asquith's pledge. No form of words had been offered that gave immunity from risk of being forced into industrial service, but any attempt to use this we'apon to ccerce trades unionists would lead to great bitterness, and end in failure. He emphasised that it was impossible for this country, a great naval, *x great military and a great industrial power, after the war to be different from the rest of the world. It would be a hard* bad world unless labour took a hand

in shaping it. Mr. Sexton, en behalf of the Liverpool dockers, moved a resolution expressing horror at German atrocities, and pledging the Conference to assist the Government as far as possible in a successful prosecution of the war. He remarked thai if Germany won nothing e!se on God's eadth mattered. Mr. Millikan, of Liverpool, seconder the resolution. Mr Ramsay MacDonald appealed for foresight and toleration. They were' too" early and too late to pronounce 'anything on the origin of the war. He asked the Conference not to show a divided front on this question, lest it interfered with desired unity in fighting a common enemy.

THE FOKKER SCARE. ENTIRELY WITHOUT CAUSE. (Reed. 10.30 a.m.) LONDON, January 26. The Editor of "Aeronautics" in describing the Fckker. says the scare was baseless, and points out that the Germans had temporarily concenttfated their best machines and pilots along the narrow sector of the British front, hoping to conceal certain reinforcements, and movement of 'troops, foreshadowing a .strong local offensive. Hence the sudden frantic effort to drive off our machines. SOUTH AFRICAN REBEL AGREES TO BEHAVE BETTER. (Reed. 10.30 a.m.) PRETORIA, January 2G. Correspondence is published wherein Botha protested agfiust Be Wet addressing a public meeting, at which he expressed the hope that war would result in the freedom of South Africa without a struggle. De Wet now promises to strictly acquiesce. KING EDWARD'S HORSE EARN MILITARY DISTINCTION. (Reed. 5.30 a.m.) LONDON, January 26. The 2nd King Edward Horse have earned official recognition for excellent work for which they volunteered in the trenches in France. A DUTCH SQUEAL. DISHONOURABLE TACTICS FRUSTRATED. (Reed. 5.30 a.m.) LONDON, January 26. The Hague "Vaderland" comments on the "tightening of the British blockade in connection with our lawful commerce with Germany. This is not in the British interests and might involve conflict with Holland and so prolong the war. \