MOTHER COUNTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 March 1918, Page 5

MOTHER COUNTRY.

PRISONERS IN GERMANY. SULLIVAN'S PATHETIC STORY. THE NEKD FOU PHYSICAL ACTIVITY. London, March 17. ■ Sullivan, the boxer, who has returned from the Ruhleben internment camp emphasises the necessity of doing cvcryt'"n" t0 kl *l> >'l> tile spirits of 'the priso/ici's at Kuhleben, who include 4.3 Aus-

tralians and II) Xcw Zealauder.s, to prevent the monotony, weariness and waitin;; undermining their mental and physical vigor. Despite the excellent sport, piUbtiine and other outdoor diversions, the difficulty of resisting the depressing mode of life increases as the war proceeds.

A num'bor of promising men have been shattered, and some will probably never recover. He found the older men stood the strain better than the younger,! as they were able to take a more philosophical view of the confinement and their wasted years.

He was convinced that the sporting and gymnastic activities had been the greatest boon. He found those studiously inclined apt to go under first. Ho mentioned cases of clever yemng men slowly sinking into imbefcility. Some of these had ibeen damaged, probably irreparably. He therefore used all his persuasion to induce others to keep physically fit, especially the Australians and Xew Zealanders. He found them, 011 the, whole, more disposed to strenuous diversions than others I and their he quitted the camp on March 7, was reasonably good all round. Sullivan wants to impress on the friends of prisoners the importance of helping them to keep going physically. He mentioned two shortages, particularly indoor gymnastic shoes of various sizes to the largest, preferably with rope soles, as rubber would probably be barred by the authorities.

He says it is difficult to keep the men, especially the younger, losing the most valuable years of their life and employing their best energies merely for the purpose of keeping up their spirits and preventing general deterioration.

He confirms the view that parcels from home alone ennble prisoners to keep alive. The lack of food might have been due to German neglect in tlu> earlier periods, but he is doubtful if Germany has been ;ible to do much recently owing to her own food troubles The prisoners' staple food has long been pototpes, turnips, and a very small ration of meat once a week. No otle could subsist on it.

Now the Australian Red Cross has taken over the dispatch of parcels he anticipated that everything rocardin** delivery would be satisfactory. Ample bread was available from Holland. Overmany/biscuits were supplied, and he suggested that other food might be substituted. The mails were very unreliable, but there wa s no means of ascertaining where the leakages occurred. ° Sullivan looks well, and little altered which he attributes to his incessant activities, physical and social. He modestly refuses to accept credit for keeping the camp in good health, but other released prisoners placo the matter beyond doubt.

CLOSING AT 9.30.

TO SAVE GOAL SUPPLIES.

Received March 18, 10.35 p.m, London, March 17. . The Daily Telegraph states that a new order is to be issued closing theatres, music halls, and cinemas at 9 30 at night after April 1. The Telegraph believes the order also applies to clubs and restaurants.

The coal controller is responsible for the measure, the object of which is to effect an economy in coal.

Theatrical managers are alarmed, and fear the measure will mean giving up evening performances. The controller is receiving a deputation of theatre employers and employees to-day.

AN ALLIES' CONFERENCE.

Renter Service. Received March IS, 11.50 p.m.

Paris, March 17. 'M. Clemenceau (French Premier and War Minister), Signor Orlando (Italian Premier), and their French and Italian Ministers, have returned from London, \vhere an important conference was held, M. Clemenceau expressed satisfaction at the results.

Jjl— WAGES OF AGRICULTURAL LABOR. London, March 17. The Agricultural Wages Board has fixed the minimum wages at HOs-a week.

EGYPTIAN COTTON TAKEN OVER

Received March IS, 7.50 p.m.

London, March 17. The Press Bureau states tliat Britain, on behalf of the Allies, is taking over the Egyptian cotton crop from August licwt, also the rest of the present crop. Received March 18, 11.50 p.m.

Cairo, March 17. The cotton agreement gives over double the pre-war price?, Britain provides a maximum of ten million* sterling and the banks jointly ai; equal amount. Egypt guarantees the interest, and Britain controls the Loverpool prices and sales and all the subsequent industrial stages.

After long negotiations between the Board of Trade and several syndicates of would-be purchasers, a contract has been entered into for the sale of the German shares in Siemens Bros., Ltd-, of Woolwich and Stafford, electrical engineers. The successful syndicate consists of British-born subjects. It is their intention to carry on and expand tile business, which has been supported by Government war contracts. At the outbreak of war J>v far the greater part of the business was in derman hands. The family of Siemens in Germany held 70,000 shares out of 120,000 of £S r.(,"h. The control was in the bands of the immense Siemens and Halslce concern in Berlin, and dividends were being paid in Berlin at the rate of £35,000 a year The complete transference of the hti<!nem to British I bands will loosen the hold which Gerimany had on the electrical industry in 'Espial