PARLIAMENTARY SALARIES.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 December 1915, Page 5

PARLIAMENTARY SALARIES.

NO ALL-ROUND REDUCTION, Received Dec. 14, 7.30 p.m. Lsndon, Dec. 13. In the House of Commons MV. Asquith announced that it was hot proposed to make an all-round reduction in parliamentary saalries. TRADE WITH DENMARK. THE RECENT AGREEMENT, Received Dec. 14, 11,10 p.m. London, Dec. 14. The trade agreement witli Denmark, which lias hitherto been kept secret, stipulates that goods are not to be reexported except to neutral and Allied countries, and seller and buyer must declare to this effect and give the committee the widest scope to control tho final destination. Re-export to Sweden and Norway allows the following:— Coffee, tea, tobacco, sheet iron, »nd cloth. The concessions under the agreement do not apply to raw cotton, coal, coke, oils, paraffin, tinware, and rubber. Heavy fines will be imposed for contraventions.

THE DARDANELLES TURKS SUFFER SEVERELY. MEN BEARING UP- WELL. London, Dec. 13. Renter's correspondent at the Dardanelles, under date December 3, pictures the wintry conditions. Winter arrived earlier than was expected and the trenches at Suvla were flooded. The stamina of the British troops was severely tried, but they stood it better than the Turks, who quitted the trenches and were shot sitting oil the parapet. Several who were taken prisoner were in a pitiable condition. They were poorly clad and complained that they were only given half rations. It appeared that the severe weather, combined with our aeroplane and warship bombardments were hampering the Turks." communications.

Recent!}' the Turkish artillery has been more active, and the New Zealanders were subjected to a night attack. It was lialf-hcarted and easily repulsed. The colonials, including the Maoris, withstood the'intense cold satisfactorily and cheerfully. The indications are that, owing to their splendid physique and resourcefulness, they will stand the severe weather ahead even better than their British comrades. The storm somewhat damaged our boats and barges, but intercommunication has been restored.

On two occasions recently the Turks, thinking we might be evacuating our positions, quitted their trenches at night in order to reconnoitre. Considerable numbers came out, but for the most part they were not molested, our officer* wishing to encourage the belief that we had retired, hoping they would come in greater numbers. The weather is normal, but it is expected to be severe in January and February. It is hoped the troops will then have received their wet weather clothing, including tnigh boots and waterproof capes, and that they will be better prepared than the enemy. Supply conditions are more difficult here than in France, but every possible effort is being made to cope with the unusual circumstances.,

Later information shows that the enemy suffered greatly in the storm. Many had neither blankets nor underclothing and must have perished. Several bodies were washed down to our trenches. TURKISH BATTERIES ACTIVE. Amsterdam, Doe. 13. A Turkish communique says: Our artillery at the Dardanelles frequently struj'k the enemy warships, driving them

TURKISH TRANSPORT SUNK. BY FRENCH SUBMARINE. London, Dec. 13. A Turkish transport of 8000 tons has been submarined in the Sea of Marmora. Athens, Dec. 13. It is reported at Constantinople that the transport Rechid Pasha was sunk near Silivria, in the Sea of Marmora, by a French submarine. It is stated that only seven transports are left, the others having been submarined. OUR MEN AT ANZAC. APPRECIATION OF THEIR DEEDS. ft* THE TIMES HISTORY. Times and Sydney Sun Services. London, Dec. 13. The last number of the Times' War History, dealing with the spirit of Anzac, comprehensively visualises the Australasian war efforts from the point of view of Englishmen. It declares that the spirit of Anzac has percolated through both Dominions, Changing their fibre and their thoughts. They have followed the fortunes of their sons on those dreary, inhospitable cliffs where the destiny of Turkey is being so strangely linked with theirs. They became busy, too, witli visions of a new Australianism and a new Imperialism, and for the first time became conscious of a place in the troubled orbit of the conflicting nations. Referring to the episodes at Aiutae, the. history describes the whole-hearted efforts of whole communities to equip their sons with the best of everything. It points out that the ordeal of labor in the Egyptian desert camps was part of an essential preparation, the men's common-sense and desire to become efficient as imperial soldiers triumphing over the self-independence inculcated by the free, limitless spaces of the Dominions. It describes the joy and eagerness. the almost sacred desire, with which each draft landed at Anzac, and laments the outbreak of dysentery, pointing out that few armies have borne so much, over sucli a length of time, and few have risen better to the perilous calls of their commanders. The most moving part of the Gallipoli story will always be the splendid feelings it has called out in the breasts of young Australasians. To them it was no ordinary adventure of war. These single-minded loyal youths had different conceptions of God, but every conception fitted with the sublime conception tlmt thU Work for rut and country wfci

God's work. Upon the tissues of their natures, the warm affections, cleanliness and liberty amongst which they were brought up,' this fighting call precipitated something that seemed to them the highest thing posible. Gallipoli proved the warmth and generosity of the Australian and New Zealand character. They spent money, blood, and everything in their liberal self-effacement. The wonderful stories of the South Land had proved the verities of discipline. The plain story of Galiipoß is enough to stir the pride and to rouse the emulation of the British race. For generations Victoria Cross men have been wonderful, but the spirit of Anr.ai is heroic throughout. General Walker, after the Lone Pine fight, mentioned more than 150 men for decoration. It is wrong to regard the Australian as reckless. He lias every possible reason for wishing to live—warm affections, ■jvell-ostablished homes, and n fruitful country. Life to him is very swept, but he has measured the sacrifice by the stake, and knowing that the great aim is to maintain the happiness of his country, feels justified in giving himself. The Times paper pays a tribute to the direct methods of the medical corps, who do not consider traditions, but are ready for duty or to overwork themselves instead of awaiting orderlies. Australian doctors gave up comfort, incomes and independence for the hard, disciplined fight in septic surroundings, and proved extraordinary quick and skilled. The writer points out that there is bo Imperial organisation, and the Dominions are kept in the dark owing to the fear of leakage of secrets, and there is no attempt to inform the Dominion press, which is allowed to flounder along with two articles in its creed, one faith in Britain and the other tbe unshakeable certainty of victory. He states that the tragedy of Anzac was long in unfolding itself in Australasia. Anxiety ultimately followed disappointment, but nothing can shake the patient confidence in the race. The main product of the Anzac adventure is a renewed determination to see the war through. Misfortunes on the battlefield could not daunt the Australians or New Zealanders, but the leaders have begun to move toward* London in response to the Dominion*' determination to take a greater part in the control of the Kmpire.

TRIBUTE TO COLONIAL LEAERS. FURTHER PRATSE FOR THE MEN. Times and Sydney Sun Services. Received Dec. 14, 5.5 p.m. London, Wee. 13. The Times War History has some interesting sentences on the Australasian leaders' strength, and pays tributes to their practicability, directness, and patriotic opportunism, a product of the days when Messrs Fisher, Massey, Hughes, Cook, and others were working boys. The Australasians loathed the sands of Egvpt, but admitted that they owed to them their fighting strength. The Australasians' fighting qualities proved equal to every change of situation at Gallipoli. Men died with the same simple, unquestioning heroism as with which they fought. The situation brought forth wonderful endurance, courage, resource, and engineering skill.

CAPACITY FOR "HARDSHIPS. More striking than facing death was the capacity of the Australasians to endure hardships, comparable with those of the Crimea. -Men lleserted at Alexandria and stowed away to Anzac, and General Hamilton had not the heart to turn baek the men, who, with tears in their eyes, begged to ibe allowed to go to Anzac. They spent their blood at Anzac as prodigally as they did their substance at Cairo.

The officers' sympathetic understanding won the confidence which the British army won by the medical skill of the doctors. The British seemed unanimous in their desire to go into battle with the son of Australasia, who felt drawn closer to Britain by the common Suffering and disappointment.

AUSTRALIA. ROWDY SOLDIERS. ANOTHER RIOT. Sydney, Dec. 14. There has been another military riot in the city, in which 400 soldiers were concerned. A Greek fish shop was smashed up and many persons were injured. The riot is believed to have been the outcome of recent altercations between soldiers and the proprietors of oyster saloons. It was evidently prearranged, as men were loitering in the streets and formed up at a single note, and marched to the shop and bombarded it with blue metal and lumps of concrete. Forty police arrived and dispersed the rioters. Many arrests were ruade.

ATTEMPT TO INVADE CATHEDRAL. Received Dec. 14, 9.40 p.m. Sydney, Dec. 14. During last night's riot a number of soldiers scaled the Cathedral railings and attempted to invade the Chapter House, where the choir was practising. The precentor wet the mob and tactfully persuaded them to leave. A number of participants were brought before the magistrate, who remarked: "The only explanation of your behaviour appears to be that a section who have enlisted do not desire to go to the front. You have been trained at the expense of the country and refuse to fall in." LABORITBS OPPOSE RECRUITING.^ Melbourne, Dec. 14. Mr. Pearce states that sufficient men are in camp to provide reinforcements to the present forces for six months. A hundred thousand more were wanted by June. The Trades Hall Council carried a resolution with referenco to the new armies, recommending members belonging to affiliated unions to ignore the cards the War Council was sending out.