MOTHER COUNTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 June 1917, Page 5

MOTHER COUNTRY.

THE AIR RAIDS. WHAT THE GERMANS CLAIM. London, Juno 18. A German communique, referring to yesterday's raid, speaks of attacking important fortresses in the south of England with good results. It admits that an airman .Drought down a Zeppelin. ] Received June 19, 5.3 p.m. i London, June 18. < The coroner's jury at the City of Lon. , don inquest on forty-nine victims of the ' air raid, added a rider to the effect that the city should be warned of impending j raids. { - THE MUNITIONS DEPARTMENT j AN EVER-INCREASING STRAIN. , Received June 19, 5.5 p.m. London, June 18. , Dr. Addison (Minister of Munitions), , speaking at the conference of Trade Unionists, and justifying the dilution of labor on private work, pointed out that the present merchant shipbuilding programme was thrice that of the 1916 programme. When he first saw the demands of his department in connection with the arming of merchantmen, his heart sank, but the department had risen to the occasion. He added that this year the Ministry was feeling the demand for gun repairs, but the damage from defective ammunition and hostile shell-fire was of the smallest, even smaller than in 1916. The tanks had come into the work of production which had fallen into a groove, but the programme was formidable. The Government had also decided to increase the number of aeroplanes, and the last straw seemed to be added when the department was asked to provide agricultural tractors, but tackling such a problem was a test of ability. FOMENTING A SCARE. United Service. London, June 18. Numerous publicists forecast an invasion by fleets consisting of scores of aeroplanes, and eagerly discuss defensive measures and reprisals. FRENCH 'PRESS COMMENTS. Paris, June 18. _ Newspapers, commenting on the destruction of a Zeppelin, remark that this shows Britain's remarkable aerial mastery. Germany now knows that the British coast is as well guarded as London. The papers point out that with one exception all the recent Zeppelin raids on England have resulted disastrously. ; FOOD CONTROL. London, June 18. ' Lord Rhondda, the new Food Controller, announces that the Government has given him ample authority to deal with the whole situation, and ho is empowered, if necessary, to take over the country's food supply and strongly check speculation. When thousands are making the supreme sacrifice in the cause of liberty the profiteer is a blackmailer and must be treated as such. His first effort will be to reduce the price ot bread. RETAIL PRICES OF WHEAT. Received June 20, 12.30 a.m. London, June 10. Mr. Geo. Roberts, interrogated in the House of Commons, said that New Zealand Jamb was landed in Britain at 3d per lb and sold, to tho retailer at IOJd. Tho Food Ministry is considering the retail meat prices. AFFECTING SCENES AT INVESTITURE. London, June 18. There were affecting scenes at the Investiture by the King at Newcastle. At midday, after attending the cathedra], 60,000 people assembled on the football ground. Several widows, with infant sons clinging to their skirts, received decorations. One young widow fainted on receiving the Military Medal, and others wept. One hundred and twenty were decorated by the King and Queen. GENERAL SMUT'S POSITION IN CABINET. Eeuter Service. London, June 18. General Smuts remains in England ae an adviser in a military capacity. His position in the War Cabinet will be limited to war operations and international matters. He will be principally used as an emissary to foreign governments. • Received June 10, 5.5 p.m. London, June 18. In the House of Commons, Mr. Bonar Law said that the War Cabinet, in order to avail themselves of the special military knowledge and experience of General Smuts, had invited him to attend their meetings during his stay in England. NEW GERMAN AIR RAIDER. Paris, June 18. Mi Marcel Hutin says that the Huns are using a new three-seater aeroplane for bombing London. THE KING AND THE TYNE WORKERS. London, June IS. The King has sent a message to the Lord Mayor of Newcastle as follows: — "The loyalty and fortitude of the industrial army fills me with courage and confidence and I am convinced that under God's guidance it helps us to victory." WAS IT AN EXPERIMENT? London, June 18. A motor launch on the Tyne, escorted 1 by aeroplanes and submarines, conversed with workers at the dock in which the 1 Prinz. Adalbert is lying. ; [The cruiser Prinz Adalbert was re- ' ported as sunk by a submarine on Octo- ! ber 23, 1915.]