GENERAL ITEMS.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 August 1915, Page 5

GENERAL ITEMS.

DISTRESS IN GERMANY. GREAT SHORTAGE OF FACTORY SUPPLIES. Received August 9, 3 pjn. Berne, August 7. A German merchant, in a letter to a friend in Switzerland, says that Germain 'manufacturers are short' of nickel, copper, zinc, manganese, tin, mineral and vegetable oils, cotton, wool, jute and leather. There is distress among the north-wost coast population. owing to the shipping Stoppage, including over a million dependents of the 'X'ord, Deutsche? and Haimlburg Amerika Company, and docks, and Mring.

JiACKDffi-GUiSjS FOR SOUTH AFRICA. Received August 8, 3 p.m. Capetown, August 7. The movement for the purchase of ma-chine-guns for the South African Contingent is spreading with enthusiasm, 140 guns having been subscribed for in five days. The Hand miners, including natives, are subscribing freely, and a women's meeting at the Band donated six. . PRO-GERMAN GAOLED. London, August G. Sanmns, a. memfber of the Sheffield Board of Guardians, has been sentenced to two months' imprisonment for attempting to 1 spread disaffection among the wounded soldiers. Samms visited the U'nion Hospital and told a Canadian: "Don't think it is a very good job you're on, 'butchering people for other people's benefit." 'Die Canadian told Sanaus that if he did not move on flic would move him. Samma told two tied-ridden patients that England ha 4 brought the war on herself, and that the war was being fought by 1 the workers for their masters, not for themselves. Ho told another soldier that they would be as well off under German as under English rule. The soldier replied: "You aro a disgrace to tho country."

DETERMINED AND GALLANT OFFICER. Loudon, August 6. Captain H. S. Smart, of the Indian Army, was removed from the service recently because he d>d not join his regiment on the expiration of his leave in December. It has since been ascertained that Smart strongly desired to join the forces in France. He came to England and enlisted as a private, under the name of Hardy, in the West Surreys, and was killed at Festubert in May, where he displayed such gallantry that he would have been granted the Distinguished Service Medal had he survived. The King has approved the cancellation of the removal order. PRAISE FOR THE NAVY. • London, August '6. Sir Robert Borden, speaking at a lundheon at the Canada Clulb, said the enemy'a victory at Warsaw was nothing compared with the victory achieved 'by the British Navv in keeping the seas clear. A WHISKY COMBINE. London, August (i. Negotiations have been completed for a big Irish whisky combine to secure an economical working necessitated by the heavy taxation consequent on the war and its effect on consumption, also the new bonding regulations. DYNAMITE ON A LINER, New York, August fl. Prior to the departure of the liner Arabic for Liverpool a quantity of dynamite which wsu likely to explode at any moment was discovered. The company refuses to give any details, BELGIAN PRIEST IMPRISONED. Times and Sydney Sun Services. London, August (i. A Brussels message states that a celebrated Belgian explorer and missionary, Father Cam'pier. lias been condemned to 50 months' imprisonment for preaching a sermon referring to Belgium's martyrdom. SOUTH AFRICAN MUNITION AVORKERS. Johannesburg, August C, Tho first contingent o? volunteer munition workers have started for England. The public 'bodies enthusiastically farewelled them, SECRET SERVICE AGENT ARRESTED 'Rome. August fi. Newspapers express satisfaction at the* arrest of Baron von Gumipenherg, one uf the leaders of German espionage, wtuj was captured 'l>y a British cruiser in the Mediterranean. A r on Gumponlierg, during the Tripoli campaign, was one of the organisers for the carriage of contraband amis and munitions to the rebels.