GENERAL ITEMS.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 November 1915, Page 5

GENERAL ITEMS.

NOTES FROM THE TIMES. PERSIA FRIENDLY. Times and Sydney Sun Services. Received Nov. 1, 5.G p.m. London, Oct. 31. The Indian Government announces the termination of the British occupation of Bushirc, the Persian Government guaranteeing the security of British interests. MORE BRIBERY. The Frankfurt Gazette says that Bulgaria is ready to cede all Eastern Macedonia to Greece, and Turkey will rccog: nise Greek rights in the islands annexed in the Aegean Sea. GERMANY'S DIFFICULTY IN THE BALTIC.

German naval experts are anxiously paying attention as to how to beat olf British submarines in the Baltic. They admit that the situation is bristling with difficulties, and that they are unable to take defensive measures because of (he proximity to the Swedish and Danish coasts.

SWEDEN STOPS CONTRABAND. Copenhagen reports that Sweden lias prohibited the export of resin and soap to Germany, and proposes to prohibit pork and bacon. Norway iB acting similarly. POWDER FACTORY EXPLOSIONS. A French wireless message states that an explosion at Brest Litovsk killed two thousand Germans. It is noticeable that explosions are very frequent in German powder factories. The Cubehiml munition factory at (lenisdorf was blown up and three hundred I'Cople were killed, while a factory at Coswig was also blown up, '2lB being killed and hundreds wounded. The Gorman press are discreetly silent.

• ANOTHER EXECUTION. The Echo de Beige states that Count Joseph Hempainne, who was of a wellknown Catholic family, was hurriedly executed, the Germans fearing the Pope's intervention. PEACE KITE-FLIERS. New York reports fresh GermanAmerican press peace "kite-fliers." The Kaiser is alleged to be offering Russia fantastic terms, including Constantinople, for a separate peace. MR. ROOSEVELT SAYS A FEW WORDS.

The Times' Washington correspondent savs that Mr. Roosevelt, in a magazine article 011 "America's Unpreparedness," says: England affords a lamentable example of the punishment befalling a nation not taking its duties seriously. Her navy and soldiers are admirable, but the nation as a whole compares diswith the French. After a year of war wealthy England has failed in her duty. Her army is inadequate, and her home factories have utterly failed in adequately supplying the artillery with munitions.

By Cfcble—Preflb Association—Copyright. THE BALTIC BLOCKADE. Petrograd, Oct. 31. Hanks at Petrograd and Moscow are taking up sixty millions sterling oi the forthcoming war loan. The German slackening on the Riga front is believevd to be due to submarines in the Baltic preventing the transport of shells. Bulgarian deserters are petitioning to join the Serbian and Russian armies, provided they are not asked to light against their countrymen. SICILIAN HOSPITALS. Rome, Oct. SI.

Eight thousand British wounded from the Dardanelles will shortly arrive at Palermo, where there are the fullest hospital preparations. VOX TIRPITZ IN DISGRACE. Amsterdam, Oct. Ul. According to the newspaper De Haasbode, Admiral von Tirpitz has fallen into disgrace with the Kaiser. BELLS FOR ARMY PURPOSES. Zurich, Oct. The Archbishop of Budapest announces his readiness to give up all church bells for military purposes without waiting for requisition,

GENERAL JOFFRE. London, Oct. :il. General Jofi're lias returned to Franc;', lie had a most hearty send-off. NEW TURKISH TROOPS. Athens, Oct. 31. Thousands of Arabian soldiers from Mesopotamia arc arriving barefooted at Constantinople, and are being sent to Thrace after ten days' training.