MOTHER COUNTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 June 1918, Page 6

MOTHER COUNTRY.

OVERSEAS PRESS OENTEE, London, June 20. Loni Beaverbrook, in opening the. Overseas Press Centre, said it had been established for tlhe purpose of providing, the Imperial, Dominions, and Allied and neutral newspaper correspondents with a rallying point in touch with each other and the Ministry of Information. He said the Ministry wanted them to realise the full extent of the British' war effort, and wished to give the press facilities to study the psychology of the British people. The position of the armies in the field, as shown on the map, was not the only evidence on which conclusions could be based. In the old days, when small mercenary armies were engaged, the will and determination of the people did not matter much. Now, with whole nations engaged in war and the whole male populations plunged in conflict, everything depended on the will and determination of the peoples engaged in the struggle.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. ALEXANDRA DAY. London, June 20. Queen Alexandra, in a letter, thanked the public for its efforts on Alexandra Day, and specially referred to the celebrations in Australia and New Zealand, where it had been celebrated for the first time. LEAGUE OF NATIONS. 1 London, June 20. Viscount Grey has issued a noteworthy pamphlet advocating a league of nations and outlining the conditions essential to make the league a success.-" Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. OVERSEAS DELEGATES. London, June 20. Mr. Hughes, speaking at a luncheon tendered to him and Mr. Cook, said that Australia, after four years of war, had no reason to be ashamed. She had sent a great army which, judged by any J standard, was entitled to be called great in numbers. As to valor and achievements, Australia claimed no more than that she •bore a fair comparison with any other unit of tihe great Allied armies. A man who wore the Australian uniform need not doff it before any other Boldier, no matter under what banner he fought. (Cheers.) Australia was where she was on August 4, 1914, and would be there whether the wax lasted a month, a year, or ten years.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. London, June 20. Mr. Cook visited the Australian War Comforts Depot and was pleased with the excellent work done. He said tliS public in Australia could rest assured that the money was well spent and the administration in capable hands. He hoped the useful organisation would continue to flourish—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. THE JONAS CASE. London, June 20. In the Jonas case, Mr. Muir added that Vernon replied that he knew Zieschang, who could supply the information. Jonas next wrote to Vernon asking him to huiry, and Vernon replied, giving much important information, which was apparently conveyed to von Gontard. COMBING OUT GOVERNMENT STAFFS. London, June 20. Twenty-four revising committees are combing out the staffs of Government departments to obtain men for the army. —Aus. Cable Assoc. MISCELLANEOUS NEWS. Amsterdam, June 20. The Anglo-German Conference at The Hague has agreed on the general lines for a large exchange of prisoners. London, June 20. General Richards, on presenting medals to New Zealand signallers in Hertfordshire, said that the New Zealand forces were doing far more agricultural work than any other troops in England. The New Zealanders were cultivating 8000 acres.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. Mr. Bathurst, in a speech in London, foreshadowed a reduction in the sugar ration.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. Despite the urgent necessity for more coal, the miners in all fields are agitating for a six-hours' day and the payment of six days' wages for five days' work. Many railwaymcn have requested the executive of the National Union to . demand a further advance of 6s. The executive refused, in viiew of the fact that it had just secured an advance of 4s.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Asboc. , j