BRITAIN.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 October 1915, Page 5

BRITAIN.

THE LAST CHANCE. FOR VOLUNTARY ENLISTMENT. LOR© DERBY EXPLAINS IflS SCHEME. Received Oct. 20, 8.40 p.m. London, Oct. 19, Lord Derby, in an address at the Mansion House in connection with his recruiting scheme, emphasised the points of instruction to canvassers, who are to call personally on cligibles and see the man himself. They will explain plainly and politely the needs of the country, but they must not bully or threaten. The secret of the success of his scheme is no* to get an unmanageable number of recruits, but so many that we may be able to look forward with eonfldenee to supplying Lord Kitchener's requirement* for many months to come. The whole secret was the overcoming of tie present hand to mouth existence. He put aside the suggestion that men be asked to promise to come up at a certain date, as there was no certainty about that. He proposed establishing twenty-three classes, unmarried men to be called first and grouped according to age, and similarly deal with the married men. The twenty-three groups will be called up as required, but a fortnight's notice will be given before there is need to actually join. It may be many months before an order will be issued for married men to be called on, and the war might be decided before that. If enlisters could not be equipped at the moment, they would be allowed to remain at home until called up, and will be given three shillings per day. This was the last effort on behalf of voluntary service. The scheme is supported by all political parties, and there is the utmost harmony in the appeal to the people to recruit for the people, and he hoped thathis appeal would not be in vain.

CHANCES IN THE CABINET. THE VACANT POSITION. Received Oct 21, 12.35 am. London, Oct. 20. It is expected Mr. F. E. Smith, the present Solicitor-General, will be appointed Attorney-General in place of Sir E. Carson and that Mr. George Cave, K.C., will be appointed Solicitor-General. / A MUDDLE SOMEWHERE. AUSTRALIAN NORSES IDLE. London, Oct. 19. Fifty Australian nurses, who had done most valuable work in Efrypt during the early rushes of wounded, are idle in England. At one stage each nurse in Egypt tended 700 wounded. When their superior officers were recalled to Australia the nurses were invited to volunteer to coine to Eugland to establish No. 10 Australian Hospital. They have been six weeks in a hotel in London awaiting instructions. No. 10 Hospital is non-existent. The nurrses are sorry they,left Egypt, where there was full soopu for their labors. They fear they may be drafted in England to hospitals, and intend to appeal to Mr. Featherston the moment he arrives.

DEALING WITH SPIES. ONE SHOT, ANOTHER IMPRISONED. London, Oct. 19. The Secretary of War announces that two prisoners, charged with espionage, were court-martialled in T/ondon on September 28-30. They, were found guilty. One received the deatli sentence, which was carried ort this morning, and the other was sentenced to penal servitude for five years. MR. ASQUITH'S ILLNESS. THK IJAU.MIIIES DISAPPOINTED. Received Oct. 20, 5.5 p.m. London, Oct. 19. An important meeting of the Cabinet was arranged for Tuesday morning, the third one in twenty-four hours, hut it had to be postponed till Hie afternoon on account of Mr. A=quith's illness. It met during the afternoon, and Lord Kitchener and Mr. Asquith attended. The proceedings were curtailed, as Mr. Asquith had to attend v the War Committee and the House of Commons. The Premier went to Berkshire on Saturday for the week-end and returned unwell. His illness developed on Tuesday, and he will probably be unable to take up Parliamentary duties for a week. His doctor recommends a rest in the country. When the House of Commons met the galleries were packed, and there was a large attendance of members. Although it was generally known that Mr. Asquith would not be present, there was some expectation of a possible statement on the situation, but this was not forthcoming. RUSSIAN PRISONERS IN GERMANY. Received Oct. 20, 8.10 p.m. London, Oct. 19. The Russian Embassy at London is making itself responsible for feeding 130,000 Russian prisoners in Germany, about whom the most deplorable reports have reached England. EXPORT OF COTTON, Received Oct. 20, S.lO p.m. London, Oct. 19. The export of all cotton products, except lace and cotton waste, has linen prohibited, except to Allied countries, Spam and Portugal. Cotton for Russia must not be sent by the Baltic.