WAR NEWS BY MAIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 April 1916, Page 6

WAR NEWS BY MAIL.

CZAR INSPIRES IIIS AIi.MV Pctrogrnd, February I I. On Friday, Saturday and Sunday l» the Czar visited the northern and v.e.-„ eru fronts, wlhcro he inspected the troops. His Majesty .passed before inm>merable regiments and cordially thanked the oflicert, for their devotion and zeal, and expressed his confidence that everyone would fight to the death and help him to crus'h the enemy. Halting before a mixed regiment formed of elements detached from different infantry regiments of one of the armies, the Czar said: "I am proud to find myself among such armies, and to form a part of them. I ardently wish yon victory over the obstinate and insolent enemy." ■ The troops (Sheered his Majesty with indescribable enthusiasm.

STRIPPING EVERYTHING FOR AMMUNITION. ' _ Rome, February 15. The \ ienna authorities yesterday promulgated a decree ordering the proprietors of all hotels, pensions, restaurants, cafes, clubs and public associations to consign to the nearest military lepot, within U hours, all their, kitclien utensils and every description of ornamenta* object, bronze, copper, brass, alpach. aluminium, or pure nickel. • order issued by the Minister of \\ar at tihe same time says that messages received here from Vienna, via Zurich direct from the Imperial arms, composed of copper strips, shall be removed from all paiade 'helmets in store and be sent to be melted Jown for munitions. Newly-designed caps are to be distributed in their stead. NO FAVORITISM IN FRANCE. Paris, February 2.1. General Galliui, the French Minister of War, is bent jn suppressing any trace of favoritism in the French army. An order was issued on November t last forbidding the sending of letters bv pel sons holding some public position to the military authorities, urging the claims of individual to be withdrawn fiom the front, to remain in garrison, or to receive some other privilege. A new circular >uw now been issu°,l stating that such letters will not be considered, and that soldiers guilty of asking for such recommendations 'wiii be punished. At the same time, commanding officers are ordered to consider carefully complaints of abuses and deficiencies, and the right of every -o'dier to state a grievance or appeal with >- e . gard to his position is affirmed. PANIC IN BULGARIA. Paris, February 24. According to news from Sofia, the fall of Erzeroum has made a deep imp-ns-sion in the Bulgarian capital, tclegraulis the Journal's special correspondent ' at Salonika, M. E. I-lelsey. In many Bulgarian circles fear is !n----creasing of a sudden invasion bv Russian troops, and such an eventuality is regarded as a catastrophe. The possibihtv of having to fio| lt the Russians is causing considerable depression among the Bulgarian troops. The cost of living has increased tremendously in many parts of Bulgaria. All the German troops who were at ,! 8 have, it is said, been withdrawn About ->O,OOO, however, remain in the region of Rustehuk.

~ F , ro "} fame source it is learned that the Bulgarian fleet, onsistin* of six destroyers and two torpedo-boats and a gunboat has been bottlod up bv ft Kussian squadron in the'port of Varna.

XAVY OF 3*20,000 MEN",

London, February 23. Dr. Macnamara has given an answer as far as is statistically possible for an' overworked department, to a question » Sir Gilbert Parker about the number of men in the Navy and on work contributing to it.

As regards the Xavy proper, he savs u,Zn' & 'J T ° Up °' Ut tl,ero wp " 148,000 officers, men and bovs on the Active Service List. To this number must bo added about 07,000 reserves, By later votes of iParliament the numbers have steadily increased, and we are now authorised to work up to a maximum of 350.000 officers, men and boys by March 31, lnlC, if neccssarv. Ol that number we alreadv bear something like 320,000. We have about 85,000 men engaged in the Royal dockyards and otihei "naval establishments. For men engaged on Admiralty work under contract and sub-contract the number is several times that of .Royal dockyards and naval tfstabJishment figures. To all this mint he added the number of men getting coal for the Fleet, transporting it to places of shipment, dockside workers on coaling work, crews ot mine sweepers, and crews of the various supply ships. Then there are the men and women making elothin" and preparing food for the nien of the ; ;. : , For ( ' v<ir .v man in the wn onn ' there are something like 300,000, there are eertaiillr two persons, and possiblv even three, at work on ship construction and repairing and contributing to the general maintenance and lighting efficiency of the Fleet.