MOTHER COUNTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 April 1919, Page 5

MOTHER COUNTRY.

BRITAIN'S ARMY. OMINOUS CLOUDS. MAY BURST AGAIN AT ANY TIME. Received April 11, 12.15 p.m. London, April 8. The House of Lords read a second time the Service Bill. Lord Buckmaster moved its rejection. Lord Curzon pointed out that tlie war was not yet over. Conditions might revive it, and the clouds may hurst at any moment in a more sinister form than in the past. It wijs necessary that the troops in Mesopotamia, Syria, ar.d Palestine must be maintained intact. The small force in Russia would be withdrawn at the earliest moment, but the present army of 860,000, of which 208,000 were non-combatants, was necessary to protect the Empire and the conquered territories. We hold the latter in order to secure the fulfilment of the' peace treaty.

Lord Curzon continued that the position in Vienna is serious, fearing an outbreak of Bolshevism similar to Budapest. Our assistance was required in connection with similar appeals from various quarters during the past four or five months. We had not responded with avidity, but the power to respond is the guarantee of the peace of the world. —Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc, "GERMANY MUST PAY," ANXIETY IN BRITAIN. Received April 11, 2.20 p.m. London, April 9. A "Germany must pay" movement has been initiated in the House of Commons, and resulted in two hundred members of the House telegraphing to Mr. Lloyd George to the effect that there is the greatest anxiety throughout the country at the persistent reports that the British delegates in Paris, instead of I formulating Empire claims, are merely considering the amount extractable from the enemy; also asking for a reassurance of the Government's election pledges for full payment from Germany. Mr. Lloyd George's reply has already been cabled.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. MUNITION STOCKS. Received April 11, 12.15 p.m. London, April 10. The Ministry of Munitions' stocks at April 1 were as follow: Copper, 48,702 tons; spelter, 35,047 tons; aluminium, 11,201 tons; pig lead, 96,450 tons; nickel, 2389 tons; antimony, 4361 tons. ROYAL RECEPTION OF DIVISIONAL GENERALS. Received April 11, 5.D p.m. London, April S. It is announced that the King will receive all the Dominion divisional generals prior to their departure homewards. — Aus. N.Z. Cable Ajasoc. RIDDING ENGLAND OF ANARCHISTS Received April 11, 7.55 p.m v London, April 8. The police arrested 150 Russian Bolsheviks in London—mostly East Enders, including many criminals. All will be deported to Odessa by the earliest ships. It is intended to sweep London and the provincial centres. CONTROL OF THE IRON TRADE. London, April 8. The Ministry of Munitions on April 30 will discontinue control of pig iron and manufactured steel and tin plates. THE WARSHIP VINDICTIVE. London, April 8. The back of the warship Vindictive (sunk at Zeebrugge) is broken, and the vessel is considered immovable.

SOLDIERS' MATRIMONIAL AFFAIRS.

London, April 8. The House of Lords passed the first reading of a Bill enabling English courts to deal with matrimonial proceedings in cases of soldiers domiciled abroad. MISSING BRITISH PRISONERS. London, April 8. Mr. Churchill states that 1896 British prisoners in Germany cannot be traced. FREE PASSAGES FOR WAR WORKERS. London, April 8. Mr. Amery announced that the Government will grant after December, 1919, free passages to ex-soldiers approved under any Dominion settlement scheme; also to women who served In the land army.