News from England

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 218, 22 February 1915, Page 5

News from England

BRITISH SAILORS PLENTIFUL. ' ' , GERMANY'S DESPAIRING EFFORT. Times and Sydney Son 6errl<ei, London, February 1% . 'The Board o£ Trade states that the German blockade lias not diminished the number of men ready for service on' ■ea-going ships. Copenhagen reports that the Kaiser is going to Heligoland personally to direct the blockade. Well informed neutrals from Hamburg agree that the blockade must be regarded* as an act of despair caused through the' lack of corn in Germany and initiated to sav e the Fatherland from a condition so desperate that Germany does not fear war with the United Stales. The three Scandinavian Governments bare made identical representations to "Britain and Germany of the danger threatening shipping by the use of neutrals' flags and German submarines. RETRIBUTION". Received 21, 5 pm. Paric, Febnwrv 20. The L 4 participated in the Norfolk ra : d. I The U was one of the Gormtn a.'rthips lost in a sno-.vatorm.] GENERAL ITEMS. Received 21. 3.20 p.m. Tbv Times' sirk and wounded fnn 1 cxceil" a million. Hi • l'av,. five hundred men to llic new Welsh Guards THE USE OF ALCOHOL. Times and Sydney Sun Sen-ices. Received 21. 5.25 p.m. London, February 20. Dr Earle, lecturing at the Institute of Hygiene, said alcohol taken in moderation was valuable as soldiers' food, especially when fatigued. It was valuable as an aid to digestion and absorption of other foodstuffs. The British rations, he said, compared favorably with those of other armies. THE RUSSIAN LOAN. Times and Sydney Sun Sen-ices. Received 21, 55 p.m. j London, February 21. In the House of Commons, Sir Edward Grey stated that no political conditions were made in connection with the Russian loan. The common object of Britain and Russia \va* the prosecution of the war.

HONORS. ' 1 London. February 19. * A Victoria Cross was awarded to , Lieutenat-Coloncl Alexander, of the CXIX. battery for bravery, and his ser- 1 vices were eulogised. On August ( against overwhelming odds, he saved 1 the guns. I.ieut.-Colonel Alexander and ; three men drageed them away by hand, enabling the Fifth Division to retire without serious loss. The Victoria Cross for Drummer Kennv of the Gordon Highlanders was for fearlessly rescuing five wounded men! on October 2.1 at Ypres. He had pre-1 vionsly twjee saved and carried out I some machine guns during the action. ■ A Yieotria Cross was awarded to , Lieutenant Brook, of the Gordon nigli- ? Jinders, who was killed while leading ; two a tacks on October 29, for prevent- ' ing the Germans breaking the line at Gheluvelt. At the time it was impossible to organise a general counter-atack. Victoria Crosses were also awarded to Captain Valentine. South Stafford- ~ shires, who was killed while leading an attack at Lillebacke. on November 7. ■ To Lieutenant Depass. for entering a.; German sap on November 24 and des-r troving the' traverse, despite German homhs. To privat s Robson, Royal Scottish MacKenzie, a Scots Guardsman, Lieutenant Xeume, of the Engineers,' for gallantly rescuing wounded j men': privates Acton and -Tames Smith, of tbo Border Regiment, who were under fire for sixtv minutes while rescuing the wounded; lance-corporal Geary, of the Trish Guards. for Reading a storming partv which killer five Germans who wer,. hold in'.' a barricade at Qninchy. ,-nd then r"-' on the second b.irricade taking* -oners five more, and attempting to man a machine gun. and pracitcallv ciplaring the position alone. Arthur Martin Leake, who won a Victoria Cro<- in 1902. was granted a cla*n for conspicuous bravon" when on duty at Zonnebnke : n November. This is an unprecedented honor, 1" in.- equivalent to two crosses. j