GENERAL ITEMS.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 November 1915, Page 5

GENERAL ITEMS.

. OTES FROM THE TIMES. THE POSITION AT ARRAS. Times and Sydney Sun Services. Received Nov. "20, 5.20 p.m. London, Nov. 19. The Times' correspondent with the British Headquarters says that Arras is the most remarkable place on the Western front. It is nn inviolate advance post, protruding proudly in the forefront of 'barbarism. Its extraordinary defence is due to the deadly skill of the French artillery, and the organised house and street fighting defences. An extraordinary sight at some points is to sec French and Germans occupying houses as close together as suburban dwellers in long stretches. In the front of the suburbs the contending lines are from ten to forty yards apart, and nowhere are tlie.y more than two hundred yards apart. Civilians still live in the ruins of the town, deep down in the cellars, coming up at intervals. There are periodic bombardments. GERMAN REINFORCEMENTS FOR TURKEY. Le Petit Parisien correspondent at Geneva states that the Germans have engaged Russian and French prisoners at Munich on the railways, loading for the expeditionary force to the Dardanelles, releasing the raihvaymen, who constitute the last reserve. Seventy-two thousand Germans have been despatched to reinforce the Turks.

ACTION IX CHINA URGED, The Novoe Vremya urges tlie Allies to immediate action in China, to prevent the repetition in the Far East of the costly blunders in the Balkans. ITALY'S DIFFICULTY. La Stampa says that the Italian Cabinet has minutely considered the technical side of the Balkans question as well as the political and diplomatic advantages and disadvantages. The difl'iculties of an expedition at the present season are enormous, and it is impossible to send a large body 01 troops. The question of arriving in time is of the first importance.

INTRIGUE IN ROUMANIA. German gold is pouring into Ilou.mania for the purposes of corruption, and a million sterling has Ueen spent in a press and public propaganda, and in buying up newspapers and founding others. SWEDEN STILL NEUTRAL. The annual meeting of the Swedish Federation passed a resolution upholding neutrality, and denouncing the proGermans' -actions.