GENERAL CABLES.

Taihape Daily Times, 13 July 1918, Page 5

GENERAL CABLES.

BRITAIN'S MAN-POWER TROUBLES. LONDON, July 11. General Maurice writes: "The cause of all our man-power troubles in 191 S was that we began too late and adopted a number of unsatisfactory expedients, of which placing 191-ycar-olds in the trenches was the most unsatisfactory of all. The 'French have not yet called up this class, and' the Germans have not put them in the trenches. America fixed the age at 21 On the other hand, France and Germans have long used older men." Genoral Maurice urges the Government immediately to prepare its- 1919 programme. ITALIAN TRAITORS. BLOW UP A BATTLESHIP. , LONDON, July 11, The "Daily Chronicle's" Rome correspondent states that a court'-martial has .begun of four Italians —Carpi, Moschini, Azzoni, and Bartolini — charged with blowing up the battleship Beneditto Brin in September, 1915, at Brindisi, with the loss of 646 of the crew. The evidence inquiries extending over six months were without, result, but in May 1916, an Italian spy named Molotti, who was formerly of the Austrian Secret Service, revealed a plot between Fonsor, a German official, and the German proprietor of a fashionable Venice hotel, who received £4OOO eaclTto organise the outrage. They enlisted the services of the four accused, three of whom were members of the battleship's crew. This""3og-hearted quartette are now in a steel cage in the Roman Assize Court. They are thoroughly bad criminals, and they received £3400 in blood money.

'PLANE-WORKERS' STRIKE. GOVERNMENT TAKES WORKS OVER. aid LONDON, July 11. The Press Bureau reports that the Minister of Munitions,, Mr Winston Churchill, conferred with the parties concerned in the strike at the Alliance Aeroplane Works. He decided that neither side was free from blame. The Government will forthwith take over control of the works... The facory workers have deemed to abide by the decision of the inquiry into tho matter in dispute.

DIRECTION OF THE WAR. INFLUENCE OF DOMINIONS. LONDON, June 27. During the continuance of the Imperial War Cabinet. • the Dominions will exercise a powerful influence on the direction of the war. The War Cabinet usually is attended by nine British Ministers, accompanied by the head? of the navy and army as expert advisers, and twelve Dominion delegates. It is an accepted principle, however, that each country exercises one vote. So far the Imperial Cabinet has only discussed the question, leaving the final decision to an inner committee eosisting o£ Mr Lloyd George, 'Lord Milner, General Smuts, Sir Robert Borden, Mr. Hughes and Mr. Massey. This committee is the real power controlling fhe war, and when necessary puts a question to the vote OUR ALIENS. LONDON, July 11. In the House of Commons, Sir GeoCave said the exemption of enemy aliens from internment was being drastically revised. 'All would* be interned unless strong reasons • were shewn for exemption.