MOTHER COUNTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 July 1918, Page 5

MOTHER COUNTRY.

LABOR FOR HARVESTING. BHOET TRAINING OF TROOPS. _ London, July 2. The House of Commons, on a motion for adjournment, debated the combing «mt of agriculturists. Mr. Prothero. Minister for Agriculture, Mid be believed they would not lose much of the harvest owing to the shortage of labor. At any rats, it was necessary to take SO.OOO men already called up, though other agriculturists would only be taken after the harvest. The BWU combed out were onlv 4 per otnt. •# the total employed on the land. When German prisoners were added there would be more labor for agriculture than at November, 1910. Mr. Prothero startled the House by saying that men taken now would be in the Urine line in the middle of September, which might be the most critical moment. Several speakers hotly opposed the suggestion that the men be given only three months' training. Mr. Bonar Law said that mcst men trere firm three months' training at tame, though some were sent to France after ten week*. The principle was to Hire hew troops at least another month"s training in France. No lads of IS were eent into the firing line until they had at least four months' training. Mr Bonar Law continued: 'Don't think we are in the last ditch, but the whole German strategy is based on the attempt to wear oat our reserves. It is the Government's duty to make certain we shall not suffer such a defeat as to render the 1918 campaign useless'' .The motion for an adjournment was negatived. ..WAR PRISONERS CONFERENCE. London, July 2. The Hague correspondent of the Daily Chronicle reports that the German delegates at the War Prisoners' Conference have not yet returned from Berlin, whence they have gone to consult the Government, particularly regarding Germans from China.—Aus. N2. Cable Asitrfittiosi.

SEED CULTURE. London, July 2. Sir fhomas Mackenzie, addressing teed traders, said there was a difficulty m the- oversea* Dominions in getting scientifically trained teachers, but Lincoln College had done good work. Be continued that New Zealand was specially adapted for seed growing, and he trat endeavoring to arrange for soldiers to be apprenticed In Britain to seed culture, In order to enable them to establish the industry in the Dominion. —Aus. H.2. CaMe Assoc EXPLOSION AT MUNITIONS FACTORY. London, July 2. An explosion in a Midlands munitions factory killed 70 persons. WOMEN BEHAVE SPLENDIDLY. London. July 2. The Proas Boreas reports: There was * serious explosion on the nipht of the Ist ra a national shell-filling factory in the Midlands. It is feared between 00 and 70 have perished. The number injured is unknown. A considerable part of the productive capacity of the factory has hew saTed and work will be resumed in a few days. Fhe women workers behaved splendidly, urging to be allowed to return to work; There wiH;*» no appreciable ifcninuiion in the output. A>P£AL TO SAVE ARMENIANS. London, July t. Bewter karaa that a patbeUs appeal on behalf of the Ameninna •*» nude to the British Jiahor Conference. The | appeal reveals an appallins state of affairs. It says that none of the fearful | horrors perpetrated in the various war zone* conrpares with, ** tragedy of the lot of the Armenia* Th» Turks since the beginning of the w« have committee! unprecedented a->*<rtie» in Turkish Armenia, -hew they have massacred •heat a station person*, while two million* of Armenians in Russian Armenia •re now threatened with a similar fate. rtmmuj U asked to assist to save thle assail ancient people from comnfsto extermination.-Renter. THE CTBCHO-SLAVB. London, Jury 2. M. Mesa ww*W to Mr. Balfour aistilarl* to what he wwto to the wo***? rf the National Owen Comf- Mr fcUi* Ooe»n«*«t wttfc the «?*»£* «f the Vreaah Govern** rsprfiag

FOURTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE WAR. NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER APPOINTED Received July 3, 5.40 p.m. London, July 2. The Press Bureau states: The King las expressed a desire that the 4th of August, being the fourth anniversary of the war, should be observed with special solemnity as a special lay of prayer. The King and Queen and both Houses of Parliament will attend a special intercessory service on behalf of the Empire.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. DEMURRAGE CHARGES. London, July 2. Anglo-Australian merchants have taken up the question of demurrage charges due to the alteration of steamer fixtures. They complain that after the fixtures have been made the tonnage allotted and the goods sent forward the fixtures are frequently cancelled, owing to the diversion of the steamer to more important duties. Heavy demurrage is incurred on the goods awaiting shipment. Hitherto there has been no redress.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. A HARD KNOCK FOR GERMANY London, July 2. Members of the Liverpool Cotton Exchange passed a resolution not to trade with enemies for ten years after the war. AUSTRO-GERMANY: ALLEGED CAPTURE OF CZECHS. Berne, July 2. The Neuie Freie Presse boasts that 300 Czechs, including a captain, were captured fighting with the Italians at Montello, and summarily hanged. Tokio, July 2. Colonel Hurban. the Osech leader, states that the Creeh force in Sihma have 200,000 Germans at their mf% •, and will exact terrible reprisals if the Austrian outrage in Italy continues.— Reuter.

Paris. July 2. M. Pichon wrote to the secretary of the National Czechs' Council that, faithful to the principles of Teepect for nationalities Mid the liberation of oppressed peoples, the French Government considers the claims of the Czechs and Slav nations to be well founded, and will apply itself when the time comes to uphold their aspirations for independence In the historic limits of their provinces, liberated at length from the yoke of the Austro-Hung&riaa oppressor. —Aus. NX Cable Assoc.

THE QUESTION OP COURLAND. ' Amsterdam, July 2. In connection with Baron von Kuhlmann's declaration in his last speech in the Reichstag that Courland was already regarded as German territory, a telegram from Kovno significantly states that Hindenburg has issued an order relative to the land question paving the way for the German colonisation of Courland.