MOTHER COUNTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 June 1918, Page 6

MOTHER COUNTRY.

RED CROSS APPEAL. London, Jun 21. In order to mark tlie Royal Silver Wedding, the Red Cross is appealing for gifts of silver articles and old silver, which will be sold to assist the Red Cross work. The scheme has been taken up enthusiastically throughout the Kingdom, and it has been suggested that a similar scheme should be initiated overseas.— Aus.-N.2L Cable Assoc. NEW LEAGUE OP NATIONS. London, June 21 Mr-Balfour, continuing his speech said: —Russia's defection imposed on 113 the task of resisting Austro-Germany in the west. We had also the task of helping to restore Russia to full national and patriotic self-consciousness. Mr Balfour concluded:—All members of the entente are desirous of an honourable peace which will leave few of those internal causes of friction and jealousy which have divided small nations even more than big ones, thereby gaining greater security than mere treaties could give. He hoped peace would be supplemented by a new League of Nations to enforce peace.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn. SUBPUES OP RAW MATERIAL. London, June 21. The Morning Post urges the Dominion Prime Ministers to concentrate their efforts upon a decision regarding the supply of raw material. The Germans have already secured large quantities from South America and elsewhere and are ready to import them as soon as the war is over. Germany claims to have thro, million tons of shipping available for raw materials and manufacturers calculate that they will have a great advantage over the Allies, who will be forced to use much shipping to transport troops. The Morning Post urges that enemy shipping, even in enemy ports, should be confiscated and utilised by the Allies. Britain has, however, a virtual monopoly of certain raw materials, thus she might have the whip-hand over Germany. Nothing thus far has been done to carry out the resolutions of the Conference and the report of I Lord Balfour of Burleigh's Committee. 1 SPIRIT OF NAVY. London, June 21.Naval records since the outbreak of the war show that a large number of officers on the retired list have offered their services to the Admiralty, including some twenty Admirals. When the needs of the country appealed to them these officers took lower rank than they previously enjoyed, finding work as temporary captains in the naval reserve, aboard patrols and minesweepers. Shi Admirals, who so joined, have already gained the D.5.0., two at least receiving distinction for sinking enemy submarines.—Aus.-IIZ. Cable Assoc. MADSEN GUN NOT FAVORED. London, June 21. Mr J. L Macpherson, in the House of Commons, said that the Madsen gun was not as accurate as the Lewis. Military authorities also believed that it was not humanly possible for any machine-gun to have an opportunity of firing 50,000 rounds a day. No general would allow Ms troops to go into action with the Madsen gun as it stood. The flash could he seen hundreds of yards away and the gnnner would be wiped out in a quarter of an hour. It would be sheer murder to ask soldiers to use it, but improvements might yet be made. If so the gun would be re-tried.—Aus.-NJS. Cable Assoc.

lotd Beresford recently gave notice of a series of questions in the House of Lords, respecting the manufacture of the Madaen machine-gun, a Danish invention, which, it is claimed, is superior in point of weight to the Lewis, Hotchkiss ,and Vrokers guns; also whether Sir Douglas Haig asked for an immediate supply of 2000 Madsen guns. John Bull states that a factory for the manufacture of the gun was completed in Britain in 1916, hut was not utilised. It was devoted to other war purposes by the War Office officials, chiefly on the ground that the production of the ammunition could not keep pace with the manufacture of the guns; also that the war would be over before any considerable output of these guns could be obtained. Mr. Winston Churchill (Minister for Munitions), in the House of Commons, said that the Army Council and General (Headquarters jn prance had examined the Maotaen gun, and decided against its adoption, chiefly becaase the Lewis gun alone coold be sup- j plied in the enormous numbers required.Sir Edward Carson asked if there was danger of the gun being handed over', to Germany. Mr. Churchill replied that! the Germans would have little difficulty' in securing the gun if they desiredrit.