News from England

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 253, 5 April 1915, Page 5

News from England

TREATMENT OF SUBMARINE

CREWS,

GERMAN THREAT OF REPRISALS.

London, April 2.

The Press Bureau estates that Germany, through Washington, inquired regarding the reported differential treatment of submarine crews taken prisoner here. She emphasised that the crews executed orders given them, therefore only fulfilled military duties, and added that if they were treated worse than others then for each member of a crew taken prisoner a British army officer taken prisoner in Germany would receive correspondingly harsher treatment. Sir Edward Grey replied that the officers and men of the submarines US and Vl2 were segregated from other prisoners, but were treated humanely and provided with German ibooks and opportunities to exercise, and not fui)jected to forced labor. Tl.ev were belter fed and clothed than British prisoners in Germany. Sir Edward Grey, continuing, says that as the crews were engaged in sinking innocent British and neutral merchantmen and wantonly killing noncombatants they cannot be regarded aa honorable opponents, but under the orders of their Government committing offences against the laws of nations and contrary to common humanity. He emphasised that during the war upwards of 1000 officers and men of the German navy have been rescued from the seas, sometimes despite danger to their rescuers, sometimes to the prejudice or British naval operations. There was no instances of Germans rescuing officers or men of the Royal Navy.

EFFECT OF THE KING'S EXAMPLE.

ANTI-DRINKING MOVEMENT.

London, April 2.

The King's example is resulting in a lercarkablc anti-drink uprising. The majority of shipyard workers in Glasgow are refusing to enter public houses and are crowding the tea-rooms. Mr Lloyd George and all the aCbinet Ministers now in London have intimated their intention to follow the King's example. Lord's Brassy, Sydenham, Cowdray and many leading Britishers make a similar announcement.

Earl Grey suggests that disinterested management 'be applied to public houses in areas where munitions of war are manufactured. The public houses might be taken over for the duration of the war, the holders being compensated to the amount of their average profit for three years.

The Labor leaders, while insisting that the decline in output is mainly due to the fact that the men arc over worked and unable to sustain the strain, assert that they are qiiite ready to welcome total prohibition if it is necessary for beating the Germans.

TEMPERANCE REFORM. PETITION TO THE PREMIER. Received April 4, 5.5 p.m. London, April 3. Temperance reformers have forwarded a memorandum to Mr. Asquith, urging that the time is opportune for a reasonable measure of reform in the direction of Sunday closing and a rigoroU3 curtailment of public-house hours on other days, compulsory closing in the vicinity of camps and military barracks, and a refusal of new licenses during the war. The memorandum considers that _ total immediate prohibition is impracticable, but believes that if the principle of compensation were accepted it would be possible to obtain drastic temperance legislation bv general agreement. The signatories include many leading Churchmen. ' Free Churchmen, physicians, artists, musicians, and society leaders.

THE DOCKERS' REGIMENT.

RAPID RECRUITING.

Received April 4, 5.5 p.m. London, Aprd 4.

Though the enlistment of Liverpool dockers" does not begin until April 8, 3000 have alrcadv offered their services. Tic Servian Legation slates tnat Bulgarian irregulars,'great numbers of them in military uniforms, and under oificerj. yesterday'attacked a blockhouse at \alandovo and occupied all heights to the left of Vardar. The fighting continues. Considerable inrmbcrs have been killed and wounded, and two Servian guns ytett token.

COAL SHORTAGE.

London, April 2.

The Board of Trade Committee report that, owing to the high price of domestic coal, exports to neutral countries ought to be restricted. If prices do not shortly reach - a reasonable level the Government should consider a scheme for assuming control of the output of colleries during the continuance of the war.

STATIC INTERFERENCE WITH

TRAD!'

London, April -.

The Government has appointed a commission, with Mr. Henry E. Duke, barrister, as chairman, to determine !.) e compensation due as a result of the Crown's interference with established businesses under the Defence of the Realm Act.

CONVALESCENT HOME FOR BEL-

GIANS.

London, April 2,

An organisation has founded the first convalescent home for Belgian soldiers. The patrons include the High Commissioners and Agents-General for Australia and Canada. The Belgian military authorities state that the home is urgently needed, Convalescents should be turned out of the hospitals to make room for mo>c urgent cases- It is proposed to equip and maintain a house in the South of France at a cost of £IOOO monthly.

Mr Asquith has taken over the position of Secretary for Foreign Affairs for three weeks while Sir E. Grey takes a holiday. Hitherto Sir E. Grey has not enjoyed the short rests that other members of the Cabinet have secured.

Owing to the subscription of a further £150,000, the British Dyes Company has gone to allotment.