THE MESOPOTAMIA TRAGEDY.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 July 1917, Page 5

THE MESOPOTAMIA TRAGEDY.

GOVERNMENT CENSORED BY MINERS. Beceived July 28, &5 p.m. London, July 27. Tbe Miners' Federation Conference ■ttuußonsly adopted the president's refotatim ensuring the Government for Rot Waging to trial tbe persons responsible for tbe low of life and tbe misery flf tbe troops in Mesopotamia.

CHEESE SHRINKAGE ALLOWANCE. FXDGONG OUTPUT OF SPINNING MTTJ-S Baeeired July 29, 5.5 p.m. London, July 28. 71* Board of Trade had decided to iirraaw the shortweigfet allowance on Saw Zealand cheese to aix per cent. With a view to reducing the output of the spinning mills, the authorities fcav* ordered that only sixty per cent 9t the spindlei are to run.

JTJfi PRISONERS' AGREEMENT RATIFIED. Ranter Service. London, July 27. Xb tta Houe of Commons, Mr. Hope fcnotused that Great Britain and Germay hid ratified the war prisoners' agreement, providing for n. re lenient aadical qualifications for repatriation ud internment in a neutral ountry. the repatriation of the worst cases from Chritrcrland, the internment in Holland •f 7(00 siek and wounded Anelo-German •owtataat prisoners, also 8500 officers and non-commissioned officers who have teas imprisoned eighteen months, all of Whom will he eligible for internment in a neutral country Holland would also provide for 20TO civilian prisoners, preferably invalids

TBX QUESTION OP PUNISHMENTS. Renter Service. Beeeived July 29, 5 j p.m. London, July 25. Mr. Hope added that the punishment ft prisoners who attempted to escape bad been reduced and all punishment at present inflicted would cease by AugMt 1, and that reprisals against individuals would immediately .« cancelled, future reprisals being subject to a ■onth's notice. The execntion of all ether sentence* has been postponed until tpeace is declared.

THE KITCHENER FORLORN HOPE. London, July 27. Mn. Parker, Lord Kitchener s sister, ■fca opening » twzMr at Haitinp, said Aa did not share the general belief that her brother went down in the Ramp•Un, Her firm belief •was that lie was ftfil ftlive, and would return. This was ■U». fc-st time she had publicly anMounced her opinion, bat ever since the Imi of tie Hampshire she had been toTtaV to And out what bad happened her brother. Pahnerston N., -Tul" 2S. Apropos of the Kitchener cable, a la.lv fa l responsible position in Palmerston nctetir received a letter from a welltaown" Belfast resident, stating that the Bother of ft sailor on the Hampshire, known to her, had received a letter trow her son, whom she had thought dead, but who was a prisoner in Gernany. The ton added at the foot oI W letter, "K. is here also."

DECORATIONS FOR NEW ZEALANDHRS / London, July 27. A Military Cross ha* been awarded to lieutenant C. T. Gillespie, a New Zealndtr, for extinguishing burning boxes flf *T—"f** roder heavy shell fire, fi* worked ftaid«t exploding shells with • ttfti diwe »^ i^^ h d^^ ppel . u.