MOTHER COUNTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 March 1918, Page 4

MOTHER COUNTRY.

GERMANY'S CRIME AGAINST RUSSIA. , THE ALLIES' COMBINED PROTEST. ALLIES TO END HUNS' POLICY OP PLUNDER.

Received Marcli 20, 5.5 p.m. London, Mareli 19. The. Press Bureau has issued the following statement: The Prime Ministers and Foreign Ministers of the Entente Powers, assembled in London, feel bound to take note of the political crimes under the name of peace which have been committed againat the Russian people. Russia was unarmed. Forgetting that for four years Germany has been fighting against the independence of nations and rights of mankind, the Russian Government, in a mood of Angular credulity, expected to obtain by means of agreement a democratic peace which Russia htul failed to obtain by war. The imriistice had not expired when the Germans, contrary to their pledge, transferred troops eu masse westwards. Russia was so weak that she did not protest against this flagrant violation of her plighted word. When the Germart ? pence was translated into action it was found that it involved the invasion of Russian territory and the destruction or capture of all Russia's means of defence and organisation, arul the use of Russia's land for the Germans' profits. These proceedings do not differ from annexation because the word had been avoided. Meanwhile the Russians, who had made military operations impossible, had found diplomacy important, and their representatives were compelled to proclaim that while they refused to read the treaty they had 110 choice but to sign it. They signed it, not knowing whether it meant peace or war, nor could they measure the degree to which Russian life had been reduced by it to a shadow. Poland is threatened with devices by which the last traces of her independence are to be crushed. They are based on fraudulent promises of freedom. Roumania is also overwhelmed by merciless passion for domination. We do not and cannot acknowledge such peace terms. We mean to continue to fight, in order to finish once and for all this policy of plunder, and establish a peaceful reign of organised justica.

OUR SHIPPING LOSSES. NEARLY THREE MILLION TONS. Received March 20, 12.55 p.m. London, March 19. The War Cabinet's report of the proceedings of WI7, contains a blue book of over two hundred pages. It shows that we lent over a million tons of : hipping to France and half a million to Italy. Referring to the anti-submarine measures, there are now 3400 minesweepers and auxiliary patrol craft. The convoy system had proved markedly effective. More than ninety per cent, of the Atlantic shipping was convoyed. Our losses in convo; ed ships was only .5 per cent. The Admiralty believes that between 40 and 50 per cent, of German submarines operating in home waters in the war period have been captured or destroyed. Our total net reduction of tonnage in ships over 1000 tons amounted to 2,750,000 during the war period to tile yeae ending 1917, equalling 10 per cent.

GERMAN HOSTAGES ON HOSPITAL SHIPS. Received March 20, 11 a.m. London, March 19. In the House of Commons Mr. Bonar Law said the naval and military authorities had decided against putting German officers on hospital ships. EXCHANGE OF CIVHJANS. London, March IS. Replying to a deputation from tha House of Lords and. the House of Commons, urging a general exchange of civilian prisoners, Mr. Lloyd George said it involves exchanging fourteen thousand Germans for three thousand British. The Government could not accede, on military grounds. A MAORI GIFT. London, March 10. The King lias received a Maori gift of .1282, which nc lias allocated to the Red Cross. CONSERVING ROLLING STOCK. Received March 20, 5.5 p.m. London. March 19. In order to preserve the permanent war rolling stock, the Railway Executive in -April will reduce speeds to thirty-liva miles an hour, curtailing the services. A LEAGUE OF NATIONS. Times Scr. ice. • Received March '2D, 5.5 p.m. London, March 10. A meeting in the House of Commons decided to form a Parliamentary group favorable to a league of nations. HIGH COMMISSIONER'S RECEPTION. Received March 20, 10.30 a.m. London, March 10. At Sir Thomas Mackenzie's reception to the Hon. Heaton Rhodes, New Zealand Red Cross Commissioner, many New Zealanders were present. Lieut. Clutha Mackenzie handed to Major Brandon the Imperial Air Fleet Committee's lironze Medallion in recognition of his downing two Zeppelins. WAR COUNCIL AND CONFERENCES. Ana. and N.Z. Cable Assoc. and Reuter. Received March 20, 0.5 p.m. London, March 10. Meetings of the Supreme War Council were preceded by important political conferences from Thursday to Saturday. France and Italy attended.