AUSTRALIA

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 68, 10 August 1914, Page 8

AUSTRALIA

AUSTRALIA ARMING. COMPOSITION OF EXPEDITIONARY FOKCE. Sydney, August 8. Financial confidence has been fully restored and many clients of the Government Savings Banks have re-deposited tiheir withdrawal. Brigadier-General Bridges has been appointed organiser and commander of the Commonwealth expeditionary force. It will consist of light "horse, field artillery, infantry, army service, and medical coprs. It is anticipated that the NewSouth Wales quotum of six thousand meu will be easily obtained. The whole of the permanent officers in the State, as well as a number of prominent mili; tia officers who saw service in South Africa, have volunteered. Lord F. Blackwood, brother-in-law of the Governor-General, and Captain Anstrutlier, the Governor-General's aide-de-camp, and Captain Gale, aide-de-camp to the Governor of Victoria, are departing for the front immediately.

The Federal Cycling Council lias >f■fered to establish a corps in various States totalling 5000 men. Shipping interests were filled with consternation owing to the proclamation including coal in the list of contraband articles. It should have been coalsacks. The error was subsequently corrected. Considerable delay is arising with oversea vessels owing to the difficulty of 'obtaining clearances. Lieutenant Spencer Nolan has offered •the defence authorities a war balloon for scouting purposes. Captain Pcnfold, the well-known airman, has offered to manipulate it.

The women are organising in tlie various States to provide clothes and comforts for the expeditionary force. , A meeting of the Chamber of Cominerco was held to-day to discuss the disabilities to trade resulting from the war restrictions. These include the Customs embargo against the removal of the cargo of any German-owned vessel. The inter-State and New Zealand steamers so far show little falling off in passenger and cargo bookings. The Union Company 'has not been advised of the reported non-sailing of the Niagara and proposes to carry on the Canadian service from this end as usual pending advices. Mr, Cook has invited Messrs Fisher, . Hughes, and the State Premiers to eonfer with him on matters relating to the war, including finance and public works, and the Checking of attempts to inflate tiiu price of commodities. Received 9, 5.5 p.m. Sydney, August 9. A meeting of the Chamber of Commeice decided to ask the Government to release the cargoes seized on Gcr-

man vessels. The - Chamber will oppose any attempt to exploit goods, particularly foodstuffs. The chambers in other States will act similarly. ■ With/ a view of conserving ammuni- ■ tion, ail rifle matches have 'wen stopped. Mrs Cook, wife of th;> Federal Premier, is appealing to the women for thousands of pairs of woollen socks for Australia's war contingent. _ Oivil servants and tank officials joinin# the_ force are to r«ceiv c full'pay. and their positions w.fli not be filled." A German gardener, despondent on learning of the German reverses, blew out his -brains.

Melbourne, Au.gr.st 9. The. German Consul lhas received no official news for a week. Twelve. Germans have beon naturalised in the city in the past few days. A proclamation has been i&sued adjudging British subjects having' commercial dealings with the enemy guilty of high' treason. Merchants are taking steps to safeguard the interests of their regular customers. The price of skins has fallen 50 per cent. The Statn Premier estimates that the expeditionary force will cost Australia £2,500,000. Volunteers for active service include Dr. Maloney, a member of the Assembly, and Sapper O'Neill, tPie boxer. Received 10, 12.5 a.m. Sydney, August 0. All papers had a big sale, of special Sunday war editions.The feeling is generally more settled. People are confidently awaiting news of the Norths Sea battle.

The German bands are chiefly confining their efforts to selections of loyal and martial British airs and tlie "Marscllaise," and are reaping a rich harvest.