MOTHER COUNTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 June 1918, Page 6

MOTHER COUNTRY.

HUN BARBAMSM TOWARDS (PRISONERS. London, June 2. The official report regarding the treatment of prisoners of war, published today, confirms the unofficial stories of shameful barbarism. One man, captured in March, was compelled to work immediately serving a German field-gun with ammunition, digging a position for it under British fire. A working party, including warrant officers, non-coms., and medicals, was made to work on roads and light railways under shellfire. They were knocked about with rifle butts irtid sticks. One man was thrashed until he lay on the ground'groaning. One working party had a corporal killed and three men wounded by shellfire. Many behind the lines died of weakness.

When fresh batches were captured they were kept working behind the lines instead of being sent to registered camps.—Aus. NJZ. Cable Abboc. and Reuter. BIRTHDAY HONORS. London, June 2. The Gazette contains thousands of honors, mostly military, on the occasion of the King's Birthday. Lord Rhondda has been created a viscount, and there are three new barons, including Mr. George Faber, M.P., and Mr. Bevan. The Privy Councillors include the Leader of the Parliamentary Labor Party (Mr. Adamson), and the Parliamentary Secretary to the Food Controller (Mr. Clynea). The fourteen baronetcies include Messrs J. 0. Butcher, M.P., and R. Harmsworth, M.P., and the Coal Controller (Mr. Calthrop). The knighthoods include the theatrical manager Mr. Alfred Butt, the editor of the Daily Telegraph (Mr. Lesage). and the editor of the Liverpool Post (Mr. Jeans). There are hundreds of recipients of the various classes of the Orders of Bath, St. Michael and St. George, and the Indian Empire, and thousands of appointments to the D.5.0., M.C., and M.M., for services in France, Egypt, and Salonika.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. and Reuter. DECORATIONS FOR AVIATORS. London, June 2. The King has instituted two decorations for the Royal Air Force, namely, the Distinguished Flying Cross for gallantry, and the Air Force Cross for courage and devotion on the part of officers, and the Distinguished Flying Medal and Air Force Medal for noncommissioned officers and men.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. and Reuter.

| NEW ZEALANDERS PARTICIPATE. i London, June 2. I The following have been made Companions of the Order of St. Michael and St. George for service in France and Flanders: —New Zcalanders: Lieut.Colonels H. E. Hart and C. W. Melville. —Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. and Reuter.