GERARD’S MOVEMENTS.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 2 March 1917, Page 6

GERARD’S MOVEMENTS.

THE BELGIAN DEPORTATIONS. ■WILL MAKE THE WORLD SHUDDER WITH HORROR. « Received 9. 15. MADRID, Feb. 28. Mr Gerard and a party of forty newspaper correspondents and American refugees from Germany, have (embarked. Gerard states he Is immensely pleased at his reception in Spain, moulding the King, Government, and the populace. Before he left Gei’many he had many mysterious warnings addressed to him on the subject of his homeward journey. He decided to ignore the warnings, though they were obviously most seriously meant. The vessel also carried seventeen hun dred Spanish emigrants for Cuba. The New York Times’ Bordeaux correspondent interviewed the American consul, who returned with Gerard. The consul, in a most significant statement, said the Belgian deportations were the greatest -horrors of the war, and when the real reason for the deportations is know r n, which is not the case now, the w T hole world will shudder with hbrror, EXCHANGE OF PRISONERS GENERAL ACTION IMPOSSIBLE LONDON, February 27. In the House of Commons to-day, Mr J. F. Hope, Junior Lord of the Treasury, said that the general exchange of all war prisoners was impracticable as Germany would get many times more than Britain. p BRITONS IN RUSSIA. TO ENLIST OR RETURN. LONDON, Feb. 27. Mr Bonar Law states that owing to the unfairness of calling up British subjects in localities where large alien populations exist, Britian and Russia have mutually agreed that their subjects shall be given the option of enlisting locally or returning to- their own country. e I l r - GENERAL NEWS A MESSAGE TO WILSON. DEMAND FOR VENGEANCE. FROM ONE OF THE LACONIA’S VICTIMS. LONDON, Feb 2S. Mr Austin Hoey has cabled to President Wilson demanding that the deaths of his mother and sister be avenged, and requesting the privilege of being the first to volunteer In the American. Army. He adds: “The offer is not mock heroics, but that of an American business man; but I cannot •expect Americans to offer their lives to avenge the Laconia outrage unless 3 do.” 7WOMEN WORKERS FOR FRANCE, LONDON, Feb 28. The War Office has inaugurated a scheme for employing women from 20 to 40 in war, for work in France, mainly clerical, typists, shorthand ■writers, cooks, waitresses, domestics, motor transport, checkers, telephone and postal, wages to be 23/ to 32/, with board. •

BRITISH POLITICS. FREETRADE CONFERENCE. LONDON, Feb 28. Lord Beauchamp, president of the Conference, consisting ,of seven Commoners and Lords, representing the Parliamentary Free Trade Committee, and including Messrs McKenna and Hunciman, discussed Imperial Preference. The report of the Ministers did mot favour immediate action, and advised freetraders not to force the .■Commons. In discussing the report, Mr. Runciman said events, not grounds, would settle matters, though he thought the Ireetrade case was partly given away by the protective steps already taken. Sir J. urged the preparation of counter proposals, because a policy was hopeless. The Conference decided to await events.