New Zealand

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 237, 16 March 1915, Page 5

New Zealand

CARDINAL MERCIER'S ARREST. CATEGORICALLY PROVED BY THE CARDINAL HIMSELF. AVellington, Last Night. Su:ne weeks ago a London cable message stated that the German authorities denied that Cardinal Mercier, Bishop of Malines, has been imprisoned by the Germans, as asserted by the Belgian Government. A Wellington resident in direct communication with France, has received a letter written by Cardinal Mercier whilst in prison, was written in Latin, and was smuggled into Amsterdam, whence its deliverance to the addressee was made easy. The letter, which is dated January Kith, is addressed to the parishioners of the Diocese of Malines, and it refutes with no uncertainty the statements from Berlin and Brussels that the writer did not have his liberty interfered with. Following is a translation of the letter. "You are no doubt cognisant of the communication made by the German Government to the Daily Press of Brussels, wherein it states that the Cardinal Bishop ef Malines has not been restricted in hit. liberty or in the exercise of his episcopal duties. This is far from the truth. On the evening of New Years Day, am! on the following day, German soldi .vs forcibly penetrated into the Presbyten and seiml my episcopal letter, U|>r. which, after perusal,ftthey made a report to the authorities. They have now prohibited the parish priests from reading ' it to their parishioners, threatenng them in ease, of disobedience with penalties most severe on their parishes and Oil them- ' selves. Three days ago at (I o'clock in the morning, I was ordered to appear in the forenoon before the (.iennan authorities in order to give an explanation concerning my pastoral letter to the priests and their parishioners. On the following day I was forbidden to assist in the religious ceremonies in the Cathedral of Anvers. Moreover, authority was refused me to travel in order to visit the other bishops of Belgium. Your rights and mine have been violated. As a. Bel' giau citizen, as your pastor, and as a member of the Haered College of Cardinals, T protest moat emphatically against the violation of those rights. Whatever interpretation others have put on my letter, it is proved by experience that it: has not caused any semblance of rebellion. On the contrary, it lias helped to calm my people. Belgians, 1 congratulate you on duty."

RECRUITING SATISFACTORY. HETCBXKD TROOPERS FACE COURT MARTIAL. IXTERVIEW WITH DEFENCE MINISTER. Auckland, Last Night. The organisation of reinforcements for the New Zealand Force is proceeding smoothly, and in discussing the matter this evening the Minister for Defence expressed his complete, satisfaction with the proesss of the scheme. "Recruiting is quite satisfactory," said Mr. Allen"! "The new system of enrolling volunteers by means of registration cards is working very well. It was thought that there might be some difficulty in obtaining horses for the mounted infantry, but there lias not been any difficulty in securing sufficient horses to meet the requirements of the forces, and though those provided for the main force were quite satisfactory, the Remount Department is now obtaining animals of eveir a. higher standard. The Uiird contingent for the reinforcement of the New Zealand Forces was despatched some time ago. We have news about this force, which generally is. quite satisfactory," said Mr. Allen. ''There was, of course, the unfortunate illness of Major Peacock, who contracted enteric fever and had to be left behind at the first port of call. We have also been advised that a member of the Native contingent has died. Then some members or the force have been brought back bv a returning transport, and they will be brought before a court martial to explain ■why they were left behind at a port of call."

RETURNED TROOPERS Dunedin, Last Night. A troopship which arrived at Port Chalmers to-day brought 34 troopers back, all of whom, except two, went away with the main expeditionary forco. Included in the number are twelve prisoners, ten of whom were arrested for missing a troopship at an Australian port on tlie outward journey. The remainder of the men have been invalided home, mostly suffering from sucli complaints as pneumonia or hernia. The names of those invalided home are as follows: C. Williams (South Canterbury Mounted Rifles), L. R. Mortimore (10th Mounted Rifles), A. E. Bambridge (12th Mounted Rifles), J. Phelan (12th Mounted Rifles), L. ,1. Hansen (oth Mounted Rifles), A. Nicholas (Signal Troop), 0. W. Payne (Kith Waikato Regiment), T. H. Wakefield (12th Auckland Regiment), G. 11. Harlow (12th Nelson Regiment), G. I!. Collyns (Kith Infantry Regiment), G. E. .TeflVey (13th Infantry Regiment),,P. L. Miller (12th Infantry Regimentt), 0. Monaghan (12th Infantry Regiment), A. Prestney (13th Infantry Regiment), 1). Canning (4th Otago Regiment), AV. I). Manley (4th Otago Regiment), N. Jackson (17th Infantry Regiment), A. ,T. Davis (Veterinary Group). The invalided men were sent to .the hospital.

gaudin;s sentence REDUCED. MORI? COMMENSURATE WITH TIIE CRIME. Auckland, Last Night. The Minister for Defence states that the Government has mitigated the sentence passed upon F. E. N. Gaudin to one of six months' hard labour from the date of his conviction at Apia. Mr. Allen said the Governor, had consulted the Imperial authorities, although there was 110 necessity to do so. RETURNED' TROOPERS. SUFFERING FROM LUNG TROUBLE. Duncdin, March 15. A returned troopship from Suez has brought twenty-one patients, suffering mostly from hmg troubles, and twelve prisoners. ten from Albany, where they missed their passage, and two from Egypt for misconduct. On reaching Dunedin, the men were taken under an armed guard to the Defence Office, where they will probably be court-mar-tialled. A SPLENDID PATRIOTISM. CONVALESCENT HOME FOR TROOPS. Wellington, March 15, Tho Government "has accepted the offer of Mr. 0. H. Izard to plr.ee at tlie disposal of the Defence authorities his furnishej house and gTounds at Upper Hutt as a convalescent home for sick and wounded troopers coming from the front.