America

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 171, 28 December 1914, Page 8

America

A NATION UNPREPARED. COMPULSORY TRAINING URGED. \ New York, December 24. Colonel llustand, of Chicago, Adju. tant-General of tile Central Department - of the United States Army, advocates ' the universal military training of young ( men, owing to the utter inadequacy of ■ the forces. If the whole army were as- ' sembled at New York, there would be ' insufficient mem to man the guns on a war footing. If the entire National Guard were assembled, there would not be enough men to protect those guns against the enemy. New York's game in the present condition of things would be more likely to help the enemy to capture the city than to provide protection. Colonel llustand outlines a scheme of j service largely on the Australasian ( model, whereby youths would be taught i essential military knowledge, and pro- • tected against the false history taught in the United States schools. American children ought to be taught that Americans never really won a war against a i foe worthy of their steel, and that! Britain, during the colonist revolt, was too much occupied with her own affairs in 1812. Britain really won, but quit without insisting on her rights. The. civil war was merely a contest of two mobs of untrained men, and the lights against Spain and Mexico were trilling matters. If Americans were trained, they would make magnificent troops, I and all would be ready to die lor their country. Washington, December 25. The Pan.Ameriean Union has nominated a committee to consider plans to secure the neutrality of South (America's Republics during European hostilities. Peru opposed enlarged neutral zones, both in Atlantic and Pacific waters, open to neutral ships without risk. Chili proposed that belligerent vessels should only bo allowed enough coal to take them to the nearest port of an adjoining country, unless they agreed to go direct to Europe. If merchantmen \ violated the neutrality, no coal would be furnished to any vessel belonging to the same company. The committee proposes to hold a series- of conferences, with a view of adopting a definite scheme. New York, December 23. The Rev. Dr. Helliss, of Brooklyn, hitherto regarded as Germany's greatest intellectual asset in the United States, has undergone conversion and denounced Germany from the pulpit as a world menace, burglar, bandit, and murderer. .Teutons in the congregation rose in a mass and demanded Dr. Helliss' resigna. tion. ) Washington, December 23. Sir C. Spring-Rice has published a denial of the German Embassy's justification of the shelling of Scarborough and Whitby on the ground that they are fortified places within the meaning of The Hague Convention.

X-RAYS TO DETECT CONTRABAND.

New York, December 2.3. The British Govcrnnjpnt representative X-rayed bales of cotton loading on steamers consigned to Germany. The Rontgen rays easily determined whether machinery or other contraband was concealed. This novel system worked admirably. No contraband was found in any cargo. Times and Sydney Sun Services. New York, December 25. Madame Vanderville, wife of a Bel. gian Minister, spoke at New York on behalf of the Belgian Relief Fund. She had an enthusiastic reception. The collection resulted in five large baskets being piled with bank-notes. Sir Wilfrid Laurier states that the feeling in America in favor of the Allies" is stronger than Europe is aware.

GERMANS' BOMB PLOT.

HOW IT WAS DISCOVERED. Now York, December 24. The Now Orleans plotters were all German reservists, angry at being unable to return to Europe to fight. Halle admitted that he expeeted that Germany would reward him handsomely. The in- I fernal machine consisted of two boxes one fitted with clockwork, and each containing fifty pounds of dynamite. He expected that the explosion of one would explode the other. Halle approached the British Embassy, pretending that iic had a new composition for bombarding, | hoping to obtain permission to send the eases to England aboard a British ship. The Embassy cold-shouldered him mid he then turned his attention to France. The plot failed through Halle taking a room with a detective as a fellow-lodger. The police drag net lias closed round the conspirators. A HUX7 /OH VON TTRPITZ. WILL AMERICA LOOK ON? New York, December 21. l Newspapers point out that unless Git- i many in prepared to violate a fresh set of international canons, submarines could I not be used against merchantmen, as they are unable to rescue-the crews, to i say nothing of neutral cargo. , ** I THE RUBBEIi DIFFICULTY. I New York, December 24, j The Rubber Club of (America an- ' nounces that a grave situation exists ; owing to the British embargo on the exportation of crude rubber from Britain. The statement anticipates that 125,000 , will be rendered idle in the .United I States unless the embargo is lifted. An advance in price is expected. lOurope has already bought £100,000,000 worth ( of war supplies in the United States. ■,