IN EAST AFRICA.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 8, Issue 23, 28 January 1916, Page 5

IN EAST AFRICA.

Clio Hitju Commissioner reports? LONDON, Jan. 27. In East ‘Africa, Goonral Smitn-Dor-rien 'reports that on Monday car troops advanced and drove off a small enemy force. ’We hold Serengeti Camp, fonr xuks vvest of Mbnynl.

FRANZ JOSEF SINKING FAST. A VATICAN STATEMENT. (Reed. 9.4 a.m.) LONDON,, January 27. Reuter’s correspondent says it is stated at the Vatican that Franz Josef is sinking rapidly. BLOCKADE PROPOSAL. THE MOTION TALKED OUT. (Reed. 8.45 a.m.) LONDON,. January 27. . In the House of Commons Mr. Finlay proposed that food be declared absolute contraband. Lord Cecil, replying to the deb'ate, admitted the blockade was imperfect, but complications were great. The Government had not lost sight of the possibility of blockade in the Baltic. We were trending towards what no nation had ever tried before; we were trying to blockade Germany through neutral countries. It was not a ease of high-handedness, but great caution and circumspection. It was easy to make mistakes which turn cut so serious as to prevent winning the war. The motion wa s talked out.

IN THE LORDS. THE BLOCKADE DISCUSSED. MILITARY SERVICE BILL. / PASSED ITS THIRD READING. THE POSITION OF LABOUR. (Reed. 8.45 a.m.) LONDON, January 27. Lord Devonport stated in the House iof Lords that since the commencement of the war to the end of 1915, three hundred cargoes of iron ore, 1 amounting to a million and a half tons, arrived at Rotterdam, the inference being that it was intended for Germany. The Duke of Devonshire, replying, said the average imports annually in 1911/13 were five and half million tons, nearly the whole proceeding .to Germany. Imports in Holland in 1915 were 650,000 tons. Lord Lansdowne resented the suggestion that the Foreign Office, the War Office and the Admiralty required waking up. The military bill was read a third time. Lord Denman said labour had nothing to fear from the Bill. It was likely, after the war, to play a still greater part in political affairs if any considerable section of labourites failed to realise that they were Englishmen first and trades unionists second. If they hampered the administration of jfche act their advent to power was 1 bound to be greatly delayed. TIGHTENING THE BLOCKADE. AN ACRIMONIOUS DISCUSSION. (Reed. 9.10 a.m.) | LONDON, January 27. The Daily Mail opines the Sir Edward Grey’g attack on the scarcemon--1 gering press was an impudent invention. The Daily Chronicle attacks the ; Foreign Office and says it represents a policy of fouling its own nest. . The Daily Telegraph expects that ■ ( Sir Edward Grey’s statement will silence impertinent, ignorant criticism. The Times maintains the belief that the Government should establish a regular blockade. If the public misunderstands the position it is because the public is kept in mischievous ignorance.

The Daily Mail and Morning Post remain convinced that 'a large quantity of foods are going to Germany, \ despite Mr. Grey’s arguments. The Morning Post says the silence of Mr. Balfour is very remarkable. The country holds Mr. Balfour responsible for any failure to use his full powers of speaking.

A PATRIOTIC PRELATE. DOES GERMANY PLAY THE GAME. (Reed. 9.10 a.m.) LONDON, January 27. At the Mansion House, Father Vaughan said if prussianised Germany would play the game according to rules of international law, she might command the respect of Englishmen, but she had failed to play the game, and the business of B'ritishers was to keep on killing Germans and thereby repressing atrocities. He sometimes told newspapers who exaggerated, his answer was, if the Gernidus had not done the things with which they were charged, they were failing to carry cut the directions of their Avar lords to leave the women and children nothing but their eyes to weep with. ECONOMY. ‘ LONDON, January 27. The Government has decided to close museums, except the National Gallery and ihe Victoria and Albert Museum. This will save £50,000 annually, and v.ill t.ko oe a safeguard air raids.

I BATTLE WITH SENUSSI. j - FURTHER PARTICULARS. LONDON, Jan. 27. In Egypt, further reports of operations of General Wallace’s force against the Senussi are that on Sunday a British, Dominion , and Indian force advanced in two columns in the morning, meeting the enemy, who attempted to surround them At noon the enemy were driven back to their camp, retiring rapidly westward. The camp was occupied, and SO tents with stores were burnt. Enemy ’s strength was 4,500, with three guns and four machine-guns. Our casualties were 10 British and Dominion and 18 Indians killed, also 274 wounded. The enemy casualties are estimated at 150 killed and 500 wounded. SOME KAISERISMS. LONDON, Jan. 27. The German Press publishes choice extracts from the Kaiser’s conversation at Nish. He remarked to M. Radaslavoff that he Avas extraordinarily pleased to meet the great man he had heard so much of. He said to Prince Cyril: “My boy, you please me. Go on being good and brave. ’ ’ Meanwhile the Kaiser stroked Cyril’s face. The Kaiser to M. SodorofF; It is marvellous what you have done to the French. A Bulgar General who rvas present at the War Council is reported as saying: “Our enemies’ hopes would .‘ollapse if they heard the Kaiser and the German Generals’ calm, clear conA’ersation, discussing the certainty of vietorw”

OFFICIAL REPORT. THE SHIPPING SHORTAGE. IMPORTS THAT ARE PROHIBITED. LONDON, January 27. In the House of Commons Mr. Runciman announced that in order to relieve the strain on tonnage the government had decided to cut down non-es-sential imports. Paper and pulp grass would be de'alt with first. Raw tobacco, building materials, furniture woods and veneers ,and some fruits would also shortly be prohibited. TERRIFYINNG SILENCE. , MARVELLOUS CALM OF THE FRENCH. PARIS, January 27. M. Briand, in the Chamber of Deputies, undertook not to censor political articles. He defended the military censorship, declaring that the marvellous calm of the people of France was frightening the Germans more than anything else. No shells were big enough to shatter the morale of the sacred Republic.

THE NAVY’S BLOCKADE. SIR E. GREY CHEERED. EVEN DOUBTERS SATISFIED. LONDON. Jan. 27/ Sir Edward Grey was accorded a prolonged ovation at the close of his speech in the House of Commons. The House was impressed by the difficulty of the problem. ; r.. ■ ( Win,.mill!. £ LABOUR CONFERENCE'S ATTITUDE. LONDON, Jan. 27. The Labour Conference passed a resolution by an overwhelming majority aproving the action of the Parliamentary Labour Party in co-operating in regard to recruiting. A delegate declared that if some Independent Labour Party leaders had co-operated, compulsion would not have been necessary. Mr. Wall head protested against compulsion. If the Government could not get men the only alternative was to commence to consider peace. (Loud cries of dissent and sonic of approval).