GREAT BRITAIN.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 161, 14 December 1914, Page 5

GREAT BRITAIN.

CONVALESCENT HOME FOR NEW ZEALANDERS,

Received 13, 6.5 pjn. London, December 12. The Ravensbourne Club-house has been converted into a convalescent home for New Zealanders. Twelve hundred and fifty solicitors and articled clerks are serving in the army. Over a million who are above 38 years of age, or otherwise debarred from enlisting, are now associated with the Central Association Voluntary Training Corps. Originally intended for London defence, this corps grew so rapidly that it has become a central body, with local corps in all partos of Britain. The members wear armlets, and are entitled to rank as combatants. PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES IN DUBLIN. Received 13, 5.5 p.m. ' London, December 12. j The Military Commander of Dublin has j ordered the seizure of all arms, ammunition, explosives, and warlike stores which may be landed there. PEACE PRINCIPLES POCKETED. Received 13, 6 p.m. London, December 12. | Mr Ramsay McDonald, Labor M.P., is serving in the field ambulance in Bel- j gium. I A CASE OF CONTRABAND. Received 13, 6 p.m. London, December 12. The Customs officials at Gravesend seized a huge box on a liner bound for Rotterdam. When the box was opened a German officer stepped out of the box, which contained a bed, food, and comforts. It is believed that he escaped from the interned camp at Dorchester, and was aided by spies. WAR RISKS REDUCED. Received 13, 6.5 p.m. London, December 12. Lloyd's have reduced the war risk to and from Australia to 30s per cent. MR. CARNEGIE ON THE CHRISTMAS TRUCE. "UN-CHRISTIAN AND IMMORAL." London, December 11. Mr. Andrew Carnegie, interviewed, said it would be un-Christian and immoral to stop fighting for Christmas and resume thereafter. It was impossible to believe that any nation which adopted the suggestion of a Christmas truce could do so sincerely. When the war broke out the Kaiser was ill. He had opposed hostilities, but the military caste overbore him. .

j 3.- '••» cheering news, allies Still have the ad".VANTAGE, \p Raeeived 12,6.10 pjn. j Times aid Sydney Sun Services'. • ' • London, December 12. The Times, in a leader, say a: "From both main 'theatres the news is equally cheering. It - is /dear that the Russian evacuation of Lodz has left the real strategical position unimpaired, and the Germans hate -not achieved their chief purpose. t The Russians should' have strength, enough to hold their own in Central Poland, while doggedly pursuing their movement against Cracow. In Trance and Slanders the Allies' successes may seem to be of a minor character, but they are really the essence of the business." SPEECH BY MR BALFOUR. WHAT GERMAN SUCCESS WOULD MEAN. Received 14, 12.5 a.m. ' London, December 13. *' Mr Balfour, speaking at Bristol, said: *T!hiß war is due to a crime against civilisation, the. crime of a. nation not merely resolved to be great, powerful, and prosperous, but saying, "AH these tinners- are valueless to me, unless I am able to dominate-and coerce the whole world,' A. fantastic conception of the superman that is highly absurd, but, a conception of a super-state that'has brought civilisation to its present peril. The fulfilment of Germany's ambition will mean a long farewell to Britain's greatness, Independence, influence, power for good, and power to develop her'own affairs in her own way and we would then nave German "cultur" rammed down our throats with German bayonets." RECRUITING SATISFACTORY. THE MINERS' MAGNIFICENT RESPONSE. ■•■, Times and- Sydney Sun Services. -Received 12, 5,5 pjn. ■•London, December 11. One soldier out of every four men is the response of the miners of Northumberland and Durham. The miner makes an excellent fighting man. Recruiting continues on the coalfields, and the-men are responding steadily. THE ADJ FLEETS COMPARED. GERMANS HAVE GREATER SPEED. ZEPPELINS SLOW AND UNWIELDY. Times and Sydney Sun Services. 'Received 12, 6.5 pjn. London, December 11. The" aviator Pegoud (the originator of "looping the loop" in the air), interviewed, declared: "The German airman, with >his 'Mercedes engine, can do 75 miles an hour, which is just a little faster than our best. The Taube is equal *o 05 to 70 miles. Germany has some fearless pilots. The Zeppelins are like geese racing, swallows, bogeys to frighten cities, owls afraid of daylight, too slow and unwieldy. Why, in four months of war they have only blown up half-a-dozen houses and killed twenty civilians. Since August we have dropped 620 shells in the centre of enormous groups of Prussian infantry and artillery. We have destroyed three captive balloons, besides making several forts feel uncomfortable." VOLUNTEERS FROM THE ARGENTINE. BOOM IN SHIPPING FREIGHTS. THE GIFT! BATTLESHIP SCHEME. Timed and Sydney Sun Services. London, December 11. One hundred and fifty English recruits have arrived from the Argentine. They paid their own fares and carried out military training on the voyage. Shipping freights exceed the boom rates prior to 1912. The difficulty of obtaining crews has been overcome by numbers of fishermen signing on. Despite the reduced supply of tonnage the demand is brisk, resulting in double rates being paid seamen for many voyages. The proposal for a gift battleship emanated from the Patriotic League of Britons Ovearaeas, which was formed at the instance of Lords Selborne, Aldenham, Mitoer, Curzon and others. The King is patron. The cheapest, finest, richest Coffee in the world is "Camp." It warns, reyivee, comforts, pußs you together, and .Vtkes you feel quite fit.