UNITED STATES.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 July 1917, Page 5

UNITED STATES.

NOT INTERESTED IN BALKANS. Received July 20, 5.5 p.m. Washington, July 'l9. The 'United States h&e declined an invitation to participate in the Allied conference at 'Paris, as the principal matter for discussion its the new Balkan policy to be adopted as the result of Greece's entry into the war. State Department officials explain that the 'United States is not directly interested in the Balkans.

FIRST KRAFT OF RECRUITS. Received July 20, 5.5 p.m. Washington, July 19. The first draft of recruits has been fixed for Friday. ARREST OF HUN GERM FIENDS. New York, July 19. Three Germans have been arrested in Kansas City charged with conspiracy 'to scatter broadcast infectious deadly germs under the medium of court plaster containing tetanus germs. MEXICAN TREACHERY. Washington, July 19, Senator Lewis asserted that the Government had definite information that Germany had learned of the departure of the transport to Europe, because a message was picked up by the Mexican wireless and relayed to : Germany. NAVAfL RiEORJGIANLSATION. Washington, July 16. Mr. Daniels announces the re-organi-sation of the Atlantic fleet. Rear-Ad-miral Grant has been promoted to ViceAdmiral end will command one division of the fleet. Admiral Mayo has been appointed to the general command.

Mr. Daniels states that the arrangement doubles the number of battleships now in commission, Every battleship is fully commissioned, and the purpose is to place the navy in the highest state of efficiency and readiness for action. SELECTING DRAFTS. Washington, July 19. The method of selecting drafts* is announced. It consists of drawing key numbers which determine the first to be selected from each district. The draft will probaJbly be drawn on 'Friday. It i will select, not only the first force, but will show the order in which all the registered men will be called up.

LENIENCY TO SUFFRAGETTES. Washington, July 1-9. President Wilson has pardoned the suffragettes who went to prison rather than pay their fines for creating a disturbance at the White House. GERMAN TRADE WITH SWEDEN. New York, July 19. The New York World's London correspondent says that authoritative information has been received that Germany has contracted to purchase a million and a half tons oi haematite from Sweden k in the coming year. The ore win be used to manufacture machinery and tools. It will be carried across the Baltic in vessels convoyed by Swedish warships. America may be asked to force Sweden to stop this trade under threat of not receiving American food supplies.

SENSATIONAL, OUT IMPROBABLE. New York, July 10. The New York Times publishes a sensational despatch from its special London correspondent, Mr. Charles Grasty, with displayed cross page headings marked "Passed 'bv British Censor."

Mr. Grasty says that American assistance is urgently needed to cope with the submarines. (Discussion in well-in-formed circles has revealed disquieting conditions showing how serious the positipn would ba in a few months if the destruction of shipping continued at the present rate. Mr. Grasty adds that the loss of Atlied shipping by submarines totals 1,800,00 ft tons monthly, or more than twice the amount of new construction.

The changes at the Admiralty had brought out the fact that at the present rate of construction and destruction, unless British commitments elsewhere were considerably curtailed there would, not ibe enough shipping at the end of a few months to feed Eitgland and France and maintain the armies. It is sheer waste time, declares Mr. Grasty, ta keep American destroyers in American waters when the situation :heie is so «Uical. Every craft, capable of operating "against submarines should ibe sent to Europe at the earliest posisible moment.

Our Parliamentary correspondent telegraphed last night that he had mentioned to Mr. Maasey the above cablegram, and Mr. Masaey had indicated that he did not regard the report as accurate. His own information did not bear out the alarmißt statements of the American correspondent. The fact that the censor had passed the message did not prove its accuracy. The censor might think tlio Americans needed stimulating.