UNITED STATES.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 December 1917, Page 5

UNITED STATES.

STRENGTH OF THE ARMY. •V A MILLION' AXD A HALF. Received Dec. 10, 9.25 p.m. Washington, Dec.-' 9. ilie latest official figures issued show that the United States' army in France and the United States comprises l,;iCO,0()'), or, including marines and auxiliaries, one avid a half million. AN ESPIOXAGE ORG AXIS ATTOX UNEARTHED. Xew York, Deo. fl. Important papers were seized following the urrest of Otto Morltel, secretary to the German University League. They tend to show the existence of a German I military organisation in the United I Stales for "Defence." The paper? indicate that information regarding military preparations, economic and industrial resources were forwarded to VWMackensen through a DuftVmedium, !' 1

MOTHER COUNTRY.

FOOD ECONOMY IMPERATIVE. London, Dec. 29. - ' r. Prothero, at Nottingham, urged further ploughing of the bust grass lands The strictest food economy was increasingly necessary, and he added that if the foajl shortage became more acute there mignt be such disturbances in the country as to drive us to a halting place, nullifying the achievements of our aallant dead. NEW MAX-POWER PROGRAMME. London, Dec. 9. The lobbies are full of all kinds of rumors. Some are reflected in the forthcoming question to Mr. Lloyd George, asking whether peace overtures have been received from the Central Powers. The Government will shortly announce a new man-power programme. It i 9 expected the subject will bo thoroughly examined by a small Cabinet committee in the light of the factors which have recently emerged from the main theatres of the war. ' IMPERIAL ASSEMBLY SUGGESTED. London. Dee. 0, Mr. Herbert Samuel, at Huddersficld, said that the Empire was a Commonwealth without constitution. An Imperial Federation as ordinarily understood was not practicable. An'lmperial Cabinet was desirable, liut inadequate. He suggested an Imperial Assembly, whose members would be chosen from the various parliaments of the Empire, to secure the greatest possible measure of agreement in matters relating to the Empire as a whole and transmit them to tho various parliaments for ratification or otherwise.

IN THE AIR.

FALL OF GERMAN* MACHINES. ] Amsterdam, Doc. 9. II is re-ported that two German aeroplanet, while returning from the English raid fell at Zeebrugge. The crows were killed mid the machines destroyed.