GENERAL WAR NEWS.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 8, Issue 35, 11 February 1916, Page 6

GENERAL WAR NEWS.

TO INVADE CANADA. GERMAN PLOT IN AMERICA. LONDON, February 9. The "New York Herald" says the Canadian Government, has received Secret Service reports indicating a German invasion. Two hunded thousand Mausers have been distributed on the frontier, and'numerous German officers have arrived, disguised, in order to lead the invasion.—(Times and Sydney Sun Services). THE EAST AFRICAN COMMAND. GENERAL SMITH-DORRIEN RESIGNED. GENERAL SMUTS APPOINTED. LONDON, February 9. General Smith-Dorrien, owing to illhealth, ha s relinquished the East African command. His place will be taken by General Smuts.

ALLIES' SEA POWER.

AS GERMANY SEES IT.

GROWING RAPIDLY

LONDON, February 8

An illuminating article in the "Daily Chronica" on the Allies' sea power says: Captain Perseus in the "Berliner Tagebiatt" reviews the naval and maritime gain s during the war, and shows that the losses of the British

merchant service owing to the German naval campaign are less than five and

a half per cent o’f the tonnage. He admits that the British sea power is stronger than at the- beginning of the war. Dealing .with submarines, he says that Germany had thirty submar. ines at the beginning of the war, and has probably about the The Allies’ submarines have greatly increased. Of 1200 German merchantmen, 200 were captured at the outset, and six hundred took refuge in neutral ports. Most'of the remainder are decked in Hamburg and Bremen. The Allied se 1 ?. power at the beginning of 1916 was thrice as strong as that of the enemies. The figures are as fellows;

The writer says it is more difficult to compare the submarine power. It is believed the proportion is the same 'as in the larger units. I

Allies Enemy Pre-Dreadnought . . .. 89 33 Dreadnoughts and superDreadnoughts .. .. 62 21, Battle-cruisers . . . . .. 71 65 Lesser vessels .. .. .. 113 35 Destroyers .. .. . . .. 542 180