GENERAL ITEMS.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 January 1916, Page 8

GENERAL ITEMS.

NOTES FROM THE TIMES. PRESS COMMENT ON COMPULSION. Times and .Sydney Sun Services. London, .Jan. 6. The Daily Mail says the Derby campaign shows that a clear majority of the manhood of the nation favors-com-pulsory service. The Mail hopes the House of Commons will show the old patriotism and public spirit. The people who are now manoeuvring against Mr. Asquith's pledge are those who favored neutrality at the outbreak of the war. The Times says the predominating feeling among all classes is that Lord Derby's figures entirely justify the Government in introducing compulsion. It is a gratifying fact that after fifteen months' volunteering a further three million men offered, a thing impossible in any other country in the world. Nevertheless two million had not offered. The Pall Mall Gazette says the statement in Lord Derby's report that it is impossible to call up married men until the una! -ted unmarrieds are compelled to enlist is undeniable. Lord Derby's statement that the canvass proved most distinctly that there is no want of courage and no holding back among men, hut that a.s a matter of principle they desire that all be equally compelled to serve the country, is gratifying. Lord Derby's demand that unmarried men be removed from the munition and other industries and be replaced by older married men is generally accepted. The Standard says tin? most comforting feature of the report is Lord Derby's statement that the country has proved that it is determined to support Mr. Asquith's no peace pledge and is determined to sec the war through to a successful conclusion.

PEACE PROPAGANDA IX ITALY. Clerical circles in Italy have initiated a peace propaganda. They exhibited posters bearing a figure of peace and a quotation from the Pope's allocution. The authorities have prohibited this, stating that at present it is inopportime. MILITARY SERVICE BILL. Received Jan. 7, 5.5 p.m. London, Jan. 6. The Times' Parliamentary correspondent says the division will show an overwhelming majority for the Compulsion Bill. The Nationalists arc the only party committed to oppose the measure. Labor is divided, and malcontent Liberals make a deal of noise but carry no guns. The "no compulsion" meeting arranged for Wednesday was a great disappointment. Only a dozen members turned up. The minority at Thursday's division may muster a hundred votes. The. number of exemptions is surprising. Even if the Bill passed this week it will be six weeks before actual compulsion applies. SOUTH RUSSIAN FRONT. The situation on tiie South Russian front is of the utmost military and political importance. The fall of Czcrnowitz, the capital of the 'Bnkowina province, has impressed the whole of the Balkans, particularly Roumania. It has deprived the enemy of an important and practical railway, menacing their line to Ivolomea. The Russians are rapidly following tip this success and are driving in a wedge. There are desperate battles on a two hundred miles front. General Mackenscn is unable to think of Salonika while fighting desperately to resist Russia.

Bucharest states that Russia is eolossally pouring in troops and the Czar is personally commanding. The AustroGermans are flinging in reinforcements by withdrawing troops from the Balkans and Italv.