MOTHER COUNTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 January 1919, Page 5

MOTHER COUNTRY.

THE INDEMNITIES QUESTION

DOMINIONS' CLAIM STILL

UNSETTLED.

REPATRIATION PROCEEDING.

200 SOLDIERS' WIVES LEAVING.

Received Jan. 3, 5.5 p.m. London, Jan. 1. It is premature to assume that the Dominions' claim with regard to indemnities and tiie German colonies has yet been absolutely settled by the War Cabinet.

The repatriation of New Zealandefs is proceeding steadily, although, like other forces, the actual demobilisation does not begin until peace has been ratified. Lower category men, to the number of 5700, departed for New Zealand during December aboard the Maunaanui, Marama, Tahiti, Briton, and Oxfordshire.

Passages for soldiers' wives have been rednohed to £7, and 200 will leave aboard the Ruapehu next- week, tostther with 300 soldiers. —Aus. N.Z. Cable Association.

USE OF SCHELDT FOR TRANSPORT.

TO ALLIED TROOPS -IN GERMANY

HOLLAND NOW CONSENTS.

Received Jan. 3, 7.45 p.m. London, Jan. 1

The Evening Standard states authoritatively that Holland has agreed to Britain's request to use the Scheldt for the transmission of supplies to the Allied troops in Germany, under the commercial flag.—Reuter.

DEMOBILISATION POSSIBILITIES.

DECISION OF GENERALISSIMO.

Received Jan. 3, 8.20 p.m. London, Jan. I. Marshal Foch, in consultation with Sir Douglas Haig and other generals, decided thai the size of the Allied army needed in France leaves a large margin for demobilisation. On a selective basis 10,000 can be discharged daily, increased to 22,000 if on a noil-selective basis, with the same transport facilities.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc.

POSITION OF LABOR PARTY,

TEE OFFICIAL OPPOSITION.

STATEMENT BY MR. THOMAS.

Received Jan. 4, 1.25 a.m.

London, Dec. 31. Mr. Thomas, interviewed, stated that lie believes Labor will assume the function and responsibility of an official Opposition- There is a tendency to talk of industrial action or striTces to make up for failure at the ballot-box, but Labor's clear duty is to accept the electors' verdict. It might easily govern the next election.—Aus.-KZ. Cable Assoc. STRENGTH OF BRITISH FORCES.

DEMOBILISATION AND REPATRIA-

TION.

HOW TO STOP AGGRESSIVE WARS.

Received. Jan. 3, 11.45 p.m,

London, Dec. 31. The army, navy, and air force at the date of the armistice numbered 6} million, though Britain's total war effort consisted of over 10 million.

Thus far 270,000 have been demobilised, 115.000 prisoners repatriated, and 390,000 munition workers released.

Railway and shipping facilities in France and England have made it impossible to increase the rate of demobilisation. Hl)en all the prisoners have •been repatriated the speed of demobilisation will be increased.

Mr. Barnes proposes that the armies of all nations, should be limited; and that national arsenals should be established from whence the nations should be rationed, and aggressive warfare would then cease.—Aus N.Z. Cable Assoc.

THE INTELLIGENCE DEPART-

MENT.

SOME OF ITS WORK.

EXPLAINED- BY THE DIRECTOR:

Received Jan. 4, L 45 a.m. London, Jan, 2. General Cockerill, who is retiring from the position of director of the Bureau for Special Intelligence at the War Of--fice, in farewelling his assistants stated that the bureau had saved the Empire ; «.t least 200 millions by successfully counteracting enemy activities. It detected and checked the Germans in their active speculation in raw material, olosed certain channels of enemy propaganda ftnd kept others 'open for the distribution of British propaganda in enemy countries, on which postage was prepaid by Sermiam#. General Coekerill paid a tribute to the Intelligence Department of the Dominions and Ootonies.»-Aus. 3iJZ. Cbble Assoc.