GENERAL ITEMS.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 February 1916, Page 5

GENERAL ITEMS.

NOTES FROM THE TIMES. AIR RAID SUFFERERS* (Tiroes and Sydney Sun Services)'. London, February 23. In the House of Commons, Mr. F. A. Newdegate asked that sufferers by Zeppelin raids should be compensated out of German investments in Britain. Mr. Asquith replied that already provision had been made by State insurance for air raids. ENEMY TRADE. Imperialists in the House of Commons are pressing Mr. Bonar Law to immediately consult the dominions to secure the organisation of the whole economic strength of the Empire and Allies for anti-German trade, and to report thereon. AUSTRIAN BRUTALITY TO RUSSIAN PRISONERS. A Russian commission of enquiry into the Austria* treatment of Russian prisoners was based exclusively on the testimony of eye-witnesses and victims who had escaped their captors. There was unbelievable barbarity, which shows that the Austrian treatment is more savage than that of the Germans. The Russians suffered starvation, suffocation, robbery, beating and degradation of every kind. Many were tortured and some were murdered. They had an eight days' journey to the concentration camp, and were almost foodless, and civilians were allowed to strike them anj spit on them and tear the bandages off their wounds. In camp, coffee was made of barley and acorns, and tea of blackberry leaves. Bread was mixed with chopped straw, and the drinking water was taken from a canal receiving drainage. Seven hundred who were infested with typhoid were driven to and deserted in sandy hills, and left uncovered to die. The prisoners were forced to do trench-making, and those refusing were beaten and starved. There were inhuman tortures for imaginary breaches of discipline. Photographs of the tortures, which are embodied in the report, show the malevolent savagery to which the Austrian have sunk. GREECE AND THE ALLIES. Athens, February 23. General Sarrail had an audience with King Constantine, lasting an hour, and also visited MM. Skouloudis, Zaimis and Venizelos. Later, King Constantine informed an American correspondent that he was delighted at the result of the conference, which was the first step towards clearing up the differences between Greece and the Allies. King Constantine told General Sarrail that the Allies need never fear Greek hostility. Several correspondents state that important Graeco-Roumanian decisions are pending. JAPAN SHOWING HER TEETH. Received Feb. 25 ; 5.5 p.m. London, Feb. 24. It is reported at Washington that Japan sent Austro-Germany, through America, on January 24, p. strong protest, stating that Japan could not pledge herself to continue the generous treatment of German prisoners if unlawful and inhuman destruction was continued. Washington officials decline, information.

TURKS KEPT IN IGNORANCE. The Times' correspondent at Bucharest states that visitors from Constantinople say that the population are completely ignorant of the fall of Erzerum. Turkish discontent and distress are prevalent, and women are holding peace demonstrations. MORE RUSSNAN SUCCESSES. There has been an important new Russian success 011 the Dneiater, the Russians defeating the Austrian forces between the Dneister and the 'Pruth. An eflort to reconquer the lost positions failing, the Austrians asked for reinforcements, and twenty-two Hungarian Landsturm battalions and a number of cavalry squadrons have been sent, RUSSIA'S COMMAND OF THE BLACK SEA. II Corriere della Sera publishes a Petrograd despatch saying that the Russians surrounded an army corps south of Muis. The Turks are hastening the (evacuation of Trebizond, because there one hundred thousand soldiers are nearly foodless. Russia's control of the Black Sea appears absolute. JAPAN'S HELP, The Japanese Ambassador, Matsui, interviewed on his arrival at Marseilles, said that Japan was following most interestedly the development of the war and does not doubt the issue. Japan's role since the capture of Tsing-tau and the disappearance of the Germans from the Pacific has been confined to supplying the Russians with munitions and food, and Japanese factories had shared in the triumph of Erzerum. NAVY LEAGUE WANTS AIRCRAFT. The Navy League has passed a resolution to appeal to the Government to concentrate a national effort on aircraft construction, with a view to a vigorous offensive policy. NEED FOR 'ECONOMIES. The National Savings Committee urgently appeals to large -householders to cut down the number of servants, shut up a portion of their houses, have less elaborate meala, close' hothouses, and otherwise simplify household arrangements, thus releasing labor and saving • money for th» war.