MOTHER COUNTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 January 1919, Page 6

MOTHER COUNTRY.

BRITISH FORCE r ,:

TIiEIR, DISPOSITION ObxHjSS FRANCE.

London, Jan. 23. ills Australian Press Association understands that the following i 3 the disposition of ths British forces outside I'ranee: Three divisions in Italy, but being reduced by demobilisation; also a battalion at Frame and another in the northern Tyrol; three divisions in the Balkans, including one in the Dobrudja garrisoning the zone between the Bulbars and Roumanians; another division in°the vicinity of Constantinople, also a battalion of Scutari troops sent to Cauea.sja to keep open the communications with the Indian troops in Trans-Caspia. There are large numbers of German and Austrian prisoners in Trans-Caspia who still do not believe that the Central Powers have been defeated, and who say that German submarines in the Caspian Sea recently drowned 30 000 British troops. ' The Turks ako romp.in truculent and don t appear to realise the defeat. They continue their old oppressions, exterminating the Armenians.

Three divisions of British troops at Alexandria are awaiting slupiijent home. There is another at Cairo, and three divisions in Palestine and Syria, largely Indians, besides four Mounted divisions, of which two (Australians) are about to be repatriated.

We have five infantry divisions and one cavalry division in Mesopotamia, these being necessary to preserve the civilization introduced during the war, which is remarkable, including as it (iocs the making of the modern port of },a ra, the continuation of hundreds of miles of railways, also improvements in irrigation and the navigation of rivers and it is hoped that a considerable portion of British will be withdrawn from Mesopotamia before the hot weather if ships are available.

There are other small forces in Persia, Siberia and Northern Russia, and of 70,000 garrisoning in India it' is hoped to bring 40,000 home before the summer.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assoc,

GERMAN BRUTALITY. London, Jan. 23. Another astounding story of German brutality was revealed at the inquest, at Fullrnm, on Private Varder, of the North Hants Regiment.

The evidence showed that he failed to understand the order German officer, and he was a cruel blow with a rifle butt, calling a severe injury and Varder was not permitted to report sick for some days, when large abscesses formed on the leg and blood poisoning supervened, causing death: He weighed four stone on arrival in England, and his father failed to recognise him.

A verdict was returned that death was due to German cruelty and gross neglect.—AU3.-N.Z. Cable Assoc.

ATLANTIC CABLE SERVICE. iTS RESTORATION URGED. London, Jan. 23. Mr Fisher and Sir Thos. Mackenzie had an interview with Mr A. H. Illingworth (Postmaster-General) pointing out the urgency of restoring the so-call-ed Imperial cable across the Atlantic, which was interrupted for some months, as necessary to facilitate the speedier dispatch of Australian and New Zealand soldiers' deferred messages for securing remittances. The delay in the Pacific route is almost entirely due to the Atlantic congestion. The Imperial cable belonged to Germany, and a British cruiser cut it near Faya!-Azores, within four hours of the declaration of war. Later, the cable was mended and connected with Nova Scotia and the British Isles. France took over the other German Atlantic cable, but thus far has not attempted to use it. Business men in France and England demand that the two cables shall be retained permanently, eliminating the German control of the Atlantic cables. The matter has been referred to the Peace Conference.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Service.

SOLDIERS' GRAVES.

London, Jan. 23. Hon. A. Fisher and Sir Thos. Mackenzie urged at the Graves Commission meeting that the commission should provide facilities for Australian and New Zealanders to visit soldiers' graves in France and Flanders. Mr Churchill, who presided, promised preference to overseas friends and relatives.

The Commission appointed a military sub committee to co-operate with France and Belgium in the selection of sites lor war memorials, commemorative of victories. General White represents Australia.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assoc.

EMPLOYMENT OF DISABLED SOLDIERS AND SAILORS.

London, Jan. 23.

The Press Bureau states that the Government has decided that no disabled soldiers or sailors who shall be employed in State-owned factories or establishments shall be discharged until after the dilution of labor or of ex-service men of the same class and skill. The Minister of Labor requests all employers to act in a similar manner.—Aiie.-N.Z. Cable Assoc. and Reuter.

MEDALS TO "NEW ZEALANDERS. ' London, .Tan. 23. Sixty-four New Zealanders have been awarded Meritorious Service Medals. Eighteen New Zealanders have been awarded Distinguished Conduct Medals. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assoc. and Reuter.

WAP, JBOND SUBSCRIPTION?'; London, Jan. 23.

ilational War 'bond subscriptions exceeded £I,OOO 000,000, exclusive of the most recent subscriptions through the post office. The final week yielded 95,914 applications for nearly £103,000,000, — Aus.-N-Z. Cable Assoc.

THE NORTHCLIFFE PRESS. London, Jan. 2". 'The Kortlicliffe Press has opened a campaign against Mr Austen Chamberlain's appointment as Chancellor, and is vigorously criticising the new war bond issue.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assoc.