GENERAL ITEMS.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 December 1915, Page 5

GENERAL ITEMS.

NOTES FROM THE TIMES. GERMANY'S NEW CRUISER. Times and Sydney Sun Services. Reecived Dec. 27, 7.5 p.ra, London, Dec. 2<!. A Times correspondent states that he is reliably informed that the new battle cruiser Hindenburg is ready. She is the fastest cruiser afloat, and, with others, is armed with 17-inch guns.

ATTENDING TO NAVAL WANTS. The Manchester Guardian states that Germany is not building dreadnoughts, but is concentrating her energies on submarines and merchantmen. She is seeking contracts for two new Brazilian cruisers. -i ■* GERMAN YARNS. The Lokal Anzeiger gives the text of an alleged Sofia semi-official message that Greece is unwilling to fight, and, what is more, she sees no reason to go against the Central Power:, and will gladly permit their armies to destroy the Anglo-French on Greek soil, as they are unwilling to evacuate it voluntarily. Sofia authorities state that they are convinced that the Salonika question will be solved in a few days, and the Bulgarians will greet their southern neighbors as friends.

The Frankfurter Zeitung mysteriously hints that negotiations are afoot in order to give Greece certain guarantees. Discussing the Budget debate, the paper says that the enormous increasing war cost necessitates the most colossal taxation, no matter how high the indemnity may be. SLIPPING 'MI UP. The Vienna Neue Freie Presse says that the Bulgars are leaving the pursuit to the Austro-German troops. An Italian diplomat who is |n close touch with the Balkans states that the Germans are swarming into Bulgaria in great force, and have succeeded in getting the Bulgar army well away from home. They are slipping in powerful German forces in order to safeguard the route to Constantinople, and are now showing a cynical indifference to Bulgaria. They are not sending men and gups to assist in the pursuit of the Serbians, hut will devote to Salonika sufficient men to prevent the Allies menacing the road to Constantinople.

CHRISTMAS GREETINGS TO COLONIALS. ADMIRAL SIR JOHN .TELLICOE. Times and Sydney Sun Services. Received Dec. 27, 7 p.m. London. December 20. Amongst the special Christmas greetings to Australasians obtained from leading politicians and others, Admiral Sir John Jellieoe says:—"When the opportunity comes I am sure that the Australians and New Kpniamlers under my command will emulate the heroic deeds of their comrades at Gallipoli, Who set a magnificent example for future generations and whose services to the Empire are inestimable."

MR. RUDYARD KIPLING. Mr. Rudyard Kipling says:—"ls there any message to a nation whose sons touched the summits of valor when they stormed the Gallipoli beaches, arid who have 3,ince joined their valor to endurance and a high heart beyond praise, and almost beyond belief?"" MR. BONAR LAW. Mr. Bonar Law says:—"The brightest spot in the whole war is the attitude of the self-governing dominions towards us. Their response has been greater in every respect than any of us could have expected. There has been no phase of the war so disappointing as that at the Dardanelles, but whatever may be the final result the courage, endurance, and resourcefulness of the Australians and New Zealanders will aver live amongst the finest records of the British armies The great and actual material benefit from the dominions, and the moral effect on ourselves, on neutral countries, and on the enemy, has&een a very great asset. We were not organised for war, but as regards future relations a great step towards wider organisation of the Empire was taken when the late Government gave a pledge which would he kept by any Government. Then when the time comes for the conclusion of peace, the dominions will be consulted as to their views. The dominions will certainly have great weight in deciding what the terms of peace will be, and this important step is, in my opinion, not the only step, for I do not believe that after the war the relations between the Mother Country and the dominions will ever be the same. I am speaking onlyl for myself, but my hope is that as a result of the war we may create, an Imperial Parliament in which every one of the dominions may have a full share in proportion to their population and resources in governing the Empire." MR. BARTLETT. Mr. Ashmead Bartlett said:—"lt is universally recognised that success or failure counts as little'compared with the wonderful page added to history by the courage, determination, and steadfast endurance shown by all the men on Gallipoli. It is the moral force that will win, rather than decisive victories. Australasia's support alone proves that we are on the high road to victory, and the lasting unity of the Empire is sealed by the blood that has been spilled at Gallipoli," EFFECTIVE GERMAN ARTILLERY. Times and Sydney Sun Servie»i, Received Dec. 27, 5.5 p.m. London, Dec. 26. Mr. Brown, the Daily Mail's Chicago correspondent, sends a vivid despatch of the Serbian campaign. The Germans used a wonderful.new type of mountain mortar, which, though light, threw immensely heavy shells, effective and accurate at a range of five miles. The Serb artillery was pitifully insufficient to cope with it, and their rifles and cannon were worn out in three weeks. The Austro-Germans fired an unbelievable number of shrapnel and high explosives, and apparently had inexhaustible ammunition. The German engineers showed amazing skill and judgment in selecting positions for the batteries, in natural shelters. A torrent of shells began at daylight to fall with deadly accuracy on the Serbs, who were utterly unable to escape. 'Wherever they moved shells drove them out. The Germans took their artillery to the high mountains, scaling precipices and accomplish, ing unheard-of feats, always outflanking the Serbi and forcing them te r«tr»at.

BULGARIA VERY WARLIKE. Mr. Calvert, reporting from Salonika, says that there is great activity, an,d important movements among the troops are observable in the Bulgarian lines between Doiran and Ghevgeli. The enemy are fortifying strong positions, in view of the great Austro-German losses in the Serbian and Montenegrin campaign, the diminution in strength having entailed much garrisoning in the Balkans. It is believed that the army which is being launched against Salonika is almost entirely Bulgarian, with perhaps some Turkish auxiliaries. The Bulgarians are so elated at their triumphs in Serbia and by their seeming victories against the Allies (which have been magnified into a rout, even in Germany) that they may be unable to restrain their martial ardor. The Bulgarian programme includes the annexation of the whole of southern Macedonia. The Sofia press truculently states that other nations may pause half-way, but not so Bulgaria.