The Guardian from London, Greater London, England • 6

THE MANCHESTER GUARDIAN. MONDAY. AUGUST 21, 1916. ,6 GERMANY WITHIN. ARMENIA'S IMMEDIATE GLUCOSE FOR JAM-MAKING WHY IT SHOULD BE USED, AND HOW.

The Board, of Agriculture and Fisheries desire draw attention to the importance of making strong endeavour to secure the whole of the plum crop, which promises to be large in most carts of England. Pexshore egg plums and Victorias are likely to be plentiful, and unless effort is made to take advantage of this abundance there is a danger that much fruit will be wasted, and there will be a deficiency preserves during the winter, as it is improb- able that the normal supplies of foreign fruit will be imported. Many private persons will, no doubt, arrange to bottle considerable quan- tities of plums, as was done in 1914 and 1915, out it is certain mat the greater pan ot tae crop can only be utilised by the extensive manu facture of jam. 7, 7u and hacded them over to the military to lssiiea exehar-frft Tor rnffc mtWs Wra-ino i moo wnicn tuev entprert with his Maiesiv Prions These SSedXH riSrfof1 Cate 3 WU 00 valld cafe not only not be employed in anv capacity SCARCITY IN VIENNA, i HORSES FOR SLAUGHTER COSTi FORTY POUNDS. (Bedtee's Correspondent.) Berne.

Tuesday. Austria is rapidly losing its church bells, as the military authorities are everywhere carry ing them off to be melted down for munitions. it is estimated that at least two-thirds of the whole number will be taken, including many famous and historical bells, although it was said at first that all these would be left Of the eiht bells in the well-known convent church at Admont five have been taken, and in the parish church there only the smallest of three has been left. From Marling, in Tyrol, the 'famous Wetterglocke has been carried away. At also in Trrol.

the aant detr. mined to save their church bells if it were TjOSSible. and SO thev PolIKrAr1 nil thnir crm- te melted Jown. The church bells will remain, Xew Jood are heiD instituted almost everv Vienna. To the long list of food cafas will shortly be adced cafe tickets, For some time coffee has only been obtainable Dy cards allowing each person a quarter of a pound, but visitors to cafes have been able to buy all the coffee they can drink without any trouble.

In future, special cafe cards will be prietors are also warned that under the new meat and fat regulations they may no longer serve butter with bread vui rram ctj week, and the consumption of horseflesh has greatly increased. At the last cattle market f. CAu 4 horses for slaughter sold at prices ranging up to 40. The prices of fresh vegetables have also risen enormously. Tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, garlic, and new potatoes have all doubled in price since a year ago, and prices even then were far above the normal.

The price of fruit has Son up even higher proportionately than that of vegetables. Plums in Vienna are now selling at five times the price before the war. Apples cost from fivepence to a shilling a pound, and pears are selling for. as much as eightpence a pound. Communal kitchens have been opened in Prague to supply cheap meals for persons of moderate means.

A thousand dinners, consist ing of soup and one other course, will be pro vided daily at sevenpence each. They will be served only to families whose income is under one hundred pounds a year. RUSSIANS AND THE BRITISH ARMY. ARMY COUNCIL INSTRUCTIONS. A new Army Council instruction received in Birmingham states that aliens of Russian nationality may be accepted for service in the British army if classified by a medical board in any category in which men of British nationality are being accepted for immediate service.

The total number permitted to enlist will be limited as heretofore to a total (including other aliens) not exceeding 2 per cent of the corps, but this does not limit the numbers, in individual units to that percentage- As to British subjects of enemy alien parentage, it is announced that every recruit on enlistment and every serving soldier whose father is or was of German, Austrian, Hun-, garian, Turkish, or Bulgarian nationality, whether' naturalised British, subjects or not, will be appointed or transferred to an infantry works battalion. In certain cases men of military age whose sympathies are considered to be entirely loyal to this country, although technically of enemy alien nationality, may now be accepted for service in the British army. The class of men entitled to this consideration is limited to those brought to-and who have remained in this country sinoe infancy, and whose sympathies and conduct and those of their parents have been consistently loyal. TRADE UNION CONGRESS. BIRMINGHAM CONFERENCE.

The Trade Union Congress will hold its annual meeting in Birmingham from September 4 to 9. The local arrangements are complete. It is expected that between 600 and 700 delegates will attend, and they will be welcomed by the Lord Mayor (Alderman Xeville Chamberlain). In view of the war the social part of the Con ference wili be very much curtailed, the only functions arranged being a reception by the Lord 3Iayor on the Tuesday evening and a garden party at the Edgbaston Botanical uaruens on Wednesday atternoon, to which all the local Labour leaders and a number of imhlio representatives have been invited to meet the delegates, on, Saturday, September 2, a eon-fc-ence convened by the Workmen's National Housmg Council will be held, and the same evening the Trade Union Labour Official Tom. perance Fellowship will hold its annual meeting, and it is expected that Mr.

A. Henderson, M.P.. will preside. On Thursdav the Amman's Trade Union League have a conference, and a demonstration has been arranged for the same day by the British Workers' National League. At the Conference proper the war will to a large extent colour the discussion.

Resolutions will be submitted with reference to the re-establishment of pre-war conditions national organisation of industry, provision of employment on demobilisation, development of trades vital to national welfare, industrial adjustments after the war, conscription of wealth, trade union rights, and peace negotiations. Other subjects relate to the increased cost of of railways, Government control of wood and coal trades, pensions for widows and orphans, workers' housing accommodation, pavment for statutory holidays, amendments of the Old-age Pensions Act, A SOLDIER'S FUNERAL. DEMONSTRATION OF SYMPATHY AT MARPLE. On Saturday remarkable scenes were wit- I nessed at Marole at the funeral of Private Joseph. Bennett, of the Cheshire Regiment, 6 engaged on military police duty at Abergele before he died in hospital at RhyL At the Ahereele Tribunal on FriHav niohf th.

chairman (Councillor John Edwards) called i attention to the way in which Private Bennett's body had been treated. He said that Bennett was badly wounded at Loos, and his bodv was 4: t. 7 conveyed in a motor-car to the station from his home on Friday morning. No military band accompanied it. No firing party was present and -t noo MR.

LLOYD GEORGE IN A WELSH CAMP. RELIGIOUS EQUALITY IN THE ARMY. WELSH GALLANTRY IN FRANCE KixiiEL Camp, Sunday. Mr. Llvd George to-day visited Kinmel Park Military Camp, in Denbighshire, and was present at the first service in.

a new undenominational hut which has been erected for the use of the troops. The building, which bis accommodation for about a thousand persons, has been provided by four Nonconformist bodies the Calvinistic Methodists, the Baptists, the Vesleyans, and the The cost of the hut was about 2,500. Religious Equality. Mr. Lloyd George, who 6poke both in English and in AVelsh, said I have come here to express my approval and joy.

I congratulate you and I congratulate all those who have taken part in getting the hut ready. These are days of national unity of purpose and action, but that does not presuppose unity of faith and unity of creed in all matters relating to the people. There may bo unity of purpose and action without unity in all matters of belief. The only true basis of unity is equality (uheersJ, and national union presupposes equal justice for all faiths and all creeds. (Hear, hear.) I am very glad that that is recognised, not merely from what I observe to-day but from what I hear, in Kinmel Park Camp.

(Hear, hear.) 1 attach great importance to it. You remember the order of the old sergeant, Church of England to the right, Catholics to the left, and all fancy religions stand where they are." (Laughter and cheers.) In some men their beliefs are a faith. The beliefs of others are a pure fancy, and the only way you can attain national unity is by recognising that there is a varit.ty of faiths and creeds and that unity is only possible by recognising each one in its own channel and giving fair play to all. I looked at the rivi-rs as I was driving up to-day from Criccieth. running in their own i-hannels, running through many valleys, run-, nine in different directions, to all appear- am-es, sonic running to the oast, some to the some to the north, and some to the outh, and yet somehow all were making for the same great sea.

If you dig down in your faith deep enough vou will rind that is the real example of it. I was born next to the Baptist river. Some of us were born next to the Methodist, others nxt to the Angli-i-ans, and others next to the Catholics, and we have got into those waters which are running apparently in different directions, flowing in different channels, and yet you will find that all faiths flowing into different courses -are maims for the same great ocean, the same great eternal home. (Cheers.) That is the first lesson in tolerance. Interdenominational Committee.

It was my privilege one of the first things I did as Secretary of State for War to set up an interdenominational committee in the War Offii'j to advise the Secretary of State and the Army Council as to the best way of making religious arrangements so as to suit the exigent's of the new great national army. We never h.id an army like this before. This is an army of citizens. This is a real national army, not only men coming from every county and locality but men of all faiths, men of all sects, men of. all creeds, men of all conditions of life in endless variety.

It is a real national armv, and it is essenti-il above all in an army of that kind to recognise fairly and justly the great variety creed, opinions, and faiths amongst those who have joined it. There never was an armv whose success depended more upon moral, and 1 will tell you why. Owing to the exigencies of the war we can only have a short training for a prolonged trial, and moral is more essential that ever in an army of that kind, and you don't improve the moral of a people by snubbing their shrines. (Cheers.) That is why I fee! it essential that vou should have fairptav for all creeds and all sects and all faiths, and 1 am very glad to be able to say, after consultation with leaders of all religious faiths of this country that there is a real anxiety on their iart that every denomination shall receive equal freedom. (Cheers.) We have chosen as representing the I'rve Churches of Wales the Rev.

lihet Lewis. Thcr has never been for the nation ami certainly for the soldiers of the nation a greater need for the comfort and strength which religion alone can give. Religion in the Trenches. You soldiers will be facing experiences when all the human emotions will reach a pitch which you have never felt before. Under those conditions you will require more than ever the comfort, sustenance, and the strengthening power of religion.

It is too often forgotten that the best-disciplined army, and I think on the whole the best army that this country ever saw, was a religious army. There are some people who think its objects very bad. 1 refer to the Irons-ides. We could not all arrree a boot, its ohiet but I have never met a soldier yet who did not envv tne aiscipjine ana cohesion, the iron strength, of that great army, and that undoubtedly was. an army that was animated bv a strong Teligious belief.

(Cheers.) History-teaches us that nations that make sacrifices in the course of time get requited for that sacrifice, hut religion alone teaches us and gives us the assurance, that the. sacrifice of the individual man ohall be recompensed. There is no "reater human service that can be rendered Uian that given oy our men io-ciay. (Lneers.) A Religious War. I congratulate those who have taken part in this great work, and I hear of the excellent t--1 tK it 1 are fighting for the highest possible principles, the principles of your faith.

That is what you" are fighting for we are fighting for our word. (Cheere.) Great Britain has given her yea" and her "nay to the nations, and vour "yea" shall be "yea" and vour ar.e fighting for the funda mental principles Lnnstian faith. tCheer.) J. iV tramples upon uj vi email and we said amall who little teople from being wiped out. Let your vea be your bo "nay." (Cheers.) and fichting for one of the" fundamental nrin.inu of the Christian faiih common to all denominations, all secte.

and all creeds. What more could we fisht for (Cheers.) We are fi-htins to protect weak against the ruthless.cruef unscrupulous, inhuman, strong, the men who abuse the strength the Almighty endowed them with- The most contemptible of men are uiubb uicu niiuiu vjvra given strength and muscle and who use it to oppress, to torture to trample on, and to crush those whom Provi dence has been less kind to. We are fi" htinc ror tne protection ot the weak against the ouuying strong. mat is why I hawe no hesitation in talking about these things in a place consecrated to the worship oi uoa. imi us teaca sucn a lesson to tnose men who abuse- their might that it shall never happen again in the history of the world so tar as we can help it.

(Cheers.) Godspeed to the Men. You are proceeding to a great struggle, know the dangers you have to face. You will them like men. The men belonging to the division yen have the honour to belong to are a credit to their race. (Cheers.) They had a very difficult piece of work to do on the Somme in that sreat bati.le Thm rlished much with honour to themselves and the land to which they belorged.

(Cheers.) The atttck on the Maiuetz wood was one of the most difficult enterprises which ever fell io any orvision. it was left to the Welsh divi sion, and tney swept the enemv out of it. (Cheers.) From end to end there is not a living German in the wood now. He has been driven far beyond it, and it will be your task to him still further, and I think in time ou will accomplish it. (Cheers.) When I iook aown upon you know the gallantry with which your comrades in France have fought.

nd I bid you God-speed in your work. (Loud cheers. Mr rinr.i r-. t. had luncheon with tho officers at the motored to Rhvl arvH t.ravii,ri Kv camp.

ne. train to London. A vast crowd had assembled the railway station at RhyL and Mr. Lloyd George-was loudly cheered as he left to a an of in a DAMAGE BY HURRICANE IN JAMAICA. TWELVE LIVES LOST.

MESSAGE FROM THE KING. The Colonial Office last night issued the following telegrams, received from Sir William Manning, Governor of Jamaica August 16. Regret to inform you that severe hurricane passed Jamaica on August 15. Owing to complete dislocation telegraphic communication I am unable to learn what damage has been done to cultivation except in the nearer parishes, where it is reported destruction to bananas t5 serious. I am in hopes northern side of island may have escaped with less.

Damage to buildings in Kingston unimport ant. Highest velocity wind in Kingston 72 miles per hour for few minutes, and for short oeriod velocitv winri varied between 45 to 60 miles per hour. Massixg. August 18. My telegram of August 16.

The hurricane therein reported passed over whole island. Whole of banana plants in the island; havo been destroyed. Damage to cocoanut trees has been in places more serious than in others, but for most part of island destruction. of trees has not been great, although the crop of nuts on the trees has been blown off, in, cases to very considerable extent. Cocoa has' suffered up to 30 to 60 per cent of the crop on the trees, although extensive damage to trees themselves has not been reported.

It is feared native food crops have been much damaged. So far reports as to destruction smaller settlers' houses do not appear to be serious. Damage to railway, roads, and Government buildings and property not serious. Loss of life reported up to date 12, 11 of whom were drowned at sea. Telegraphic communica tion in island not yet restored fully.

Manning. Mr. Bonar Law has telegraphed as follows I am commanded to inform you that the King has learnt with much concern of the misfortune which has befallen the people of Jamaica by the destruction of their crops by the recent hur ricane. His Majesty desires his warm sympathy should be made known to those who have suffered, and he is glad to learn the loss of life believed to be small. Bonae Law.

Mr. Bonar Law also telegraphed an ex pression of his own deep regret and most sin cere sympathy. THE CHINO-JAPANESE CONFLICT. PEKING ACCOUNT PLACES BLAME ON JAPAN. (Reuter's Correspondent.) Peking, The Japanese and Chinese versions of the Cheng-Chia-Tung affair differ consider ably.

The Chinese contend that the incident. was entirely due to Japanese troops marching to the Chinese barracks, when the original differ ence, which arose between a Chinese soldier and a Japanese might have been settled through a magistrate or the Chinese militarv commander. Furthermore, they point out tnat tne Japanese had no right to station troops at Cheng-Chia-Tung. The Japanese assert that Chinese soldiers threatened a Japanese policeman and the Japanese soldiers who were sent to protect him. An investigation proceeding, and there aonears to be a probability that matters will he settled locally and will not develop into a serious diplomatic question.

AMERICAN RAILWAY TROUBLE COMPANIES RESISTING THE PRESIDENT. (From a Correspondent.) Washington, Sunday. The railway situation over the threatened strike is most critical, though the delay on the part of the unions in calling the strike is viewed favourably. President Wilson has summoned to Washington more of the Western Railway presidents. The hitch is due to the railways demanding arbitration on the whole controversy and their refusal to accept the President's eight-hour day proposal.

(Reuter's Correspondent.) Washington, Saturday. President Wilson has made a statement ex-plaining his proposals to avert a general strike on the railways. The proposals include an eight-hour day and investigation of other issues. The statement concludes with the words The public has a right to expect their The Employees Committee has already accepted the proposal. PRICE OF WHEAT.

CHICAGO AND A FURTHER RISE. (From a Correspondent.) Chicago, Sundat. -The general feeling among dealers in the wheat pit is that the price of wheat will go higher still, though since August 1 the appreciation based upon the estimates for the total American yield is over 40,000,000. Several large and dozens of small fortunes bar been made in the last three weeks over the clcan-up in wheat by the skilled operators here, one of whom is James Patten, the former "Wheat King," who has "retired" from the pit several times only to come back whenever there is a flurrv. Dealers state that there is no German conspiracy to "boost" the market; in fact, the German element as such is not moro concerned than usual in the wheat pit.

The rise is due to shortage, or reports and estimates of shortage. These are mostly shrewd and fairly accurate, but there ia one condition that Chicago dealers will probably be found to have over-estimated, and that is the amount of damage by black rust to the Canadian crops. There has been a certain amount of speculation by outsiders buying for a flutter, but they have been largely weeded out either by losses or satisfactory winnings, and the market is now almost entirely confined to the "old hands" and the regular tutus. Some of the more conservative operators consider that the difficulties of shipping cargoes from Australia, India, and the Argentine have been over-estimated here. If this proves to be the case, in their view wheat cannot go very much higher.

POISONED BY GAS OS A HOLIDAY. Thomas Rooney, lithographer, of Fishergate Hill, Prestpn, who had been spending a holiday at Belfast has been found unconscious in. his bed by the tenant of the house where he lodged. A strong smell of gas oermeated the bouse, and .1 notwithstanding medical aid he died within an An investigation showed that in turning off small bedroom, stove. At an inquests on the body on.

Saturday the jury returned a verdict of accidental death from gas GERMAN PRISON CAMPS. STRAFING OF N.C.O.'S. LORD GREY AND A BROKEN AGREEMENT. Viscount Grey ha? token up seriously, through the American Embassies in London and Berlin, the question of the treatment of British officers in German camps for prisoners of war. The immediate occasion was the receipt of reports from representatives on the camps at Erfurt and Langensalza, which presented several unsatisfactory features; but the British Government's complaint extends to ether camps, and it is intimated that if the German nniMrnmnn, nut-.

Jlf ppreements on this matter the British Gov. ernment will "to their regret be compelled to adapt, their treatment of Gorman non-commLssionod officers" accordingly. The Foreign Secretary wrote to the American Charge d'Affaires, in London on August 14 as follows There is abundant svi.inra that, the German Government are not observing the agreement 3 non- war other supervisors. Thp follnwintr cases may De ciiea From the report on the camp at Langensalza it appears that prisoners who are unwilling to work unwillige are removed from the main division of the camp to a part specifically set apart as Strafbarrakken for unwillige," These unwillige," among whom thirty British non-commissioned officers are included, are not permitted to smoke, to play, cards, to have hot water for tea, or to attend or play games. The Commandant, while denying that these men were punished Cor refusing to volunteer to work, admitted that certain privileges ordinarily permitted to prisoners were withdrawn from them on that account.

At Giessen, as appears from Mr. Page's note of July 19, the non-commissioned officers are compelled to do six or seven hours' exercise every day in order to make them volunteer to work. A similar complaint has been received from Wittenberg. At Neu-Strelitz, where there are a considerable number of non-commissioned officers, it appears from Mr. Page's note of June 13 that no theatre, music, or other recreation is per mitted on the ground that no special privileges are to be accorded to non-commissioned officers unwilling to volunteer for work.

At Minden, as appears from Mr. Page's note of the 2nd May, 301 British non-commissioned officers have been assembled from other camps, and no amusements or recreations are per mitted them on account of their refusal to volunteer for work. It i3 clear that their concentration at Minden and their treatment there are designed to convince them that it is to their interest to volunteer to work. It is to be noted that of these 301 non-commis sioned officers five are sergeant majors," who are entitled to, but are not receiving, preferential treatment in accordance with the Note Verbale from the O'erman Government of the dna January. At Cologne, as appears from Mr.

Page's note of the 7th June, no fewer than six British non commissioned officers are imprisoned in the esiungsgegeiangms lor refusal to work. His Majesty's Government have hitherto ob served the aureement as regards non-commis sioned officers both in the snirit and in the letter, and they had confidently looked for a binmar ooservance on tne part ot tne uerman Government. No German non-commissioned officer in the hands of his Majesty's Govern ment is compeueu io worK, nor is any pressure, direct or indirect, brought to bear to induce him to volunteer to work. His Majesty's Government hold the view that the refusal of a non-commissioned officer to work cannot ius- tify the withdrawal of any of the privileges of his rank or of any of the amenities in the way of recreation or otherwise which would ordinarily be accorded to him. If the German Government refuse to accept this view and to act in accordance with it, his Majesty's Government will to their regret be compelled to adapt their treatment of German non-commissioned officers to that accorded to British non-commissioned officers by the German Government.

Viscount Grey would be greatly obliged if Mr. GeraTd could be requested to bring the foregoing to the notice of the German Government and to inform them that, unless a reply is received from them within a reasonable time, his Majesty's Government will have to assume that the German Government do not intend to perform their part of the agreements which his Majesty's 'Government have con cluded with them respecting the treatment of non-commissioned officers. Viscount Grey has the honour to add, with reference to Mr. Gerard's desDateh of the 28th June, that lance corporals aTe not non-commissioned officers. Their rank is that of private, and they are not exempt from manual labour under the agreement with the German Govern ment relative to the employment of non-com missioned orhcers.

Sour Food and Sick Men The Erfurt and Langensalza camps were visited on behalf of thr American Embassy in Berlin on May 18 and 19 by Dr. A. E. Taylor and Dr. D.

J. McCarthy. The main complaints wore from the men at Langensalza. In the "unwillige" (or north) divi sion the "Strafbarrakken" 61 of the 575 prisoners were British, and the British were in tho middle, which was dark and stuffy. Dr.

Taylor tasted the fnod, which is supplied by a contractor anil "was composed laraelv of sauerkraut and potatoes, with a small amount of dried fish. The dish presented the appearance of a soft potato mush. It had riot only the sour taste of the sauerkraut. nut had in addition an acrid and disagree- aoio navour. wntinc to the American Ambassador in London on June 27 the Foreign Secretary said: Sir E.

Grey has the honour to draw attention to the unsatisfactory features referred to in the reports, having no doubt that Mr. Gerard will take any action which may be possible with a view to their removal. Sir E. Grey notes that no letters had been received by the British prisoners of war at Jirturt ior six weeks, and that this circumstance was stated bv the German authorities to be possibly due to the transfer of the bulk of the prisoners from Erfurt to Langensalza. Inasmuch as a similar complaint was made by the prisoners at Langensalza, the delay in delivering the letters must be attributed to some other cause at present unexplained.

It is evident from the report on Langensalza that the light and ventilation of the central barrack of the North Division of the eamn are very defective, and that the food provided in both the North and 'South Divisions is very unsausiaciury. Sir E. Grey hopes that a fresh water supply for night use in the North Division may be provided, as it is natural that the prisoners should be reluctant to use a supply which was previously under suspicion of being typhoidal. The complaint of Corporal R. Snowden, 13th Canadian Battalion, that he had been roughly handled and kicked by a German under-officer is a serious one.

Sir E. Grey hopes that the new Commandant at Langensalza will investigate the comnlaints of the sick and wounded men in the Northern refusing to" perTorm 3KhE3S? i i not have been called upon to perform, and that Mr. Gerard will be able to communicate the result of the investigations in due course. THE VALUE OF THE VOLUNTEERS. Speaking at a military fete at Btery Hill, Sydenham, in aid of the battalion fund of the of doin all thev could their friends to ioin a Volunteer corns Fvn, tnenos to join a volunteer corps, ivery jounger man to go to France or one of the other fronts.

The Duke of Westminster's medical advisers sUted vesterday Renter telegram from Paris) that the Duke is progressing very favour ably. NEED. PEOPLE DRIFTING BACK TO RUINED HOMES. The Rev. Harold Buxton, hon.

secretary of the Armenian Refugees' (Lord Mayors) Fund, 96, Victoria Street London, S.W., has in England after devoting three months to reHef work in the devasted vilayets. In an interview, Mr. Buxton said: The German Government did nothing to stop the massacres. During the whole business Gerrr.an influence was supreme at Constantinople, and German Consuls were at their posts in all the chief centres through Asia Minor. Besides, the people were swept away with a methodical thoroughness which one does not expect from the Turk, who, when left to himself, acts rather with sudden spasms ot fury.

I have evidence from -an American missionary that certain of the German Consuls did their best on behalf of the Armenian people. For instance, the German Consul at Erzeroura wired to his Am bassador at Oonstantinoplevigorously protesting at the order for deportation. He received a rtply in these words We cannot interfere in the internal affairs of Turkev 1 Groups of survilvors are discovered here and there, but I don't think," said Mr. Buxton, 'there has been any exaggeration as to the losses as published in England. The Armenian race numbered over four millions.

Of the two million Turkish Armenians perhaps one mil lion have been deported and 500,000 massaord. Only 200,000 escaped into the mountains and so across to Russian soil. These are the people we are helping to relieve. There are some hundreds of thousands in concentration camps between Aleppo and Mosul and in the neigh bouring regions of Mesopotamia, where Turkey continues to be supreme over their fate. Many- were employed, we believe, in forced labour on the Bagdad Railway.

To this considerable population we have no access, and it is still in danger. According to reports which come through, it is being ravaged by sickness, famine, privation of every kind, outrage, and Help for the survivors," continued Mr. Buxton, must be forthcoming abundantly during the coming winter, and also next, year, when a larger number will be returning to their homes. About 80,000 for relief has been collected in this country, of which 57,000 was raised by the Lord Mayor's Fund and we now need at least an equal sum. The refugees have been kept alive, and food is not perhaps the main necessity at the moment.

Rather, it is a matter of repatriating them on their own lands. Everywhere I found that the Russian advance was welcomed as a deliverance. And, trusting in Russia, the people are drifting back to their ruined homes. We want those homes to be rebuilt and the farms to be restocked. One is amazed at what the people are able to do for themselves, In Erivan, for instance, the fugitives have started a newspaper, which is published twice weekly, established a labour exchange, women's workshops, a teacher's union, a board of trustees for schools, and other organisations.

"I wish that people in Britain could-see, on the one hand the natural beauty of this Switzerland of the Near East, and, on the other hand, the blackened streets, the long avenues of burnt timber, the. absolute wreckage of en tire districts, which has lesulted, not from legitimate war when the civilians can often escape into personal safety but from Asiatic. terrorism. Then, let them think of the hos pitals, the camps full of children, just snatched from a horrible death, the little shop's timidly reopened, the. farms once more' bravely 'occu pied what heroism could exceed mination to make the best of the future? The people are cheerful, courageous, hardworking.

Their spirit is entirely unbroken. In view of the enormous demands now being made upon the Treasury, the Russian Government is exceedingly generous in its grants of funds to the refugees. But there- is need for our co-operation also." RAILWAYMEN'S WAGES. MR. J.

H- THOMAS ON THE NEW DEMAND. Mr. J. H. Thomas, M.P., addressed a crowded meeting of railwaymen at Carlisle last evening, and dealt principally with the men's demand for an increase of wages in spite of agreements.

He spoke first of the punishment meted out to two men in connection with the Gretna disaster. Knowing all the circumstances; his judgment was that nothing would, be so calculated to injure the cause of those men as the threat of a strike. Everyone knew they had already. suaered enough, and he hoped the Government would take the same view. He asked the men not to pass resolutions of threats, but to base their case on its justice.

Turning to the demand made by the men for an increase of 10s. a week, and to the criticism on the subject of their breaking agreements, he said he always held that when an agreement was made it should be- honourably kept, but there had arisen circumstances which were entirely unforeseen by both sides. The railway companies were no more responsible for this than were the railway men, but the wages of railwaymen to-day, owing -to abnormal circumstances, were not enough to enable the worker to be efficient. The cost of living had increased enormously, but there were 20,000 men on the North-Western, 14,000 on the Midland, and 10,000 on the North-Eastern all receiving under 24s. a week while, taking the country as a whole, there were, exclusive of bonus, 223,000 railwaymen who were getting under 25s.

a week. Those men did not 'raaintain themselves in a state of efficiency. Dangerous Delay. This demanded serious consideration, and that was the reason they were making their application for an increase. (Cheers.) But the men also knew that there was nothing more disastrous than to have a 10s.

advance and to find themselves fleeced to the extent of 12s. in increased prices. (Hear, hear.) They had therefore, asked the Government frankly and fairly to face the situation by taking over the control of the foodstuffs of the peopled (Cheers.) But the Government did not act; hence their demand That demand had now been' before the com panies for nearly a fortnight. No reply had yet been received that could be considered either saustactory or hopeful. Delays in these -matters nMlMaMvlnraVR 11 lucse ana tnereiore neasKea, speaking in the united name of the railwavmpn tutl f- sr- ssi mj iry to faep tha getttog verF reBtle7butUhe tM? tV Its to have confidence their leaded Lthem cipitaie or m-considered pr not bS taeiudie thA-OD could rneir memnera tnrnurhmi the Government (Mr, Thema nWJf cause after all the proceeded) be- are more responsible ttSrSWg: the time, has arrived w5, l.T:;ff8e tt "lful- tfJoSHStfiffi- arekingllS ZZZ fne side Mc ujiuuiui ul i.np it -o Oil LlOCJ, hope' that before I sneak acain next Sunday Trw oi tneir obligations.

i snail be able tor sav-thk nra'mmrh nearer, our goal than we are to-day; The sand, when both-reach the stage of realising each other's difficulties that wilL be; surest possible guarantee, that justice will-emerge from our. negotiations. (Oheers,) THE PEACE PETITION BANNED. (Retjteb's Correspondent.) Amsterdam, Saturday. According to the newspaper Het Volk," Dr.

Franz Mehring, the well-known politician and leader of the Socialist (Minority) party, was arrested in Berlin last Monday. No definite charge appears to have been brought against Dr. Mehring, who, it is stated, was arrested becau.i.-. "his attitude was disagreeable to the Government" According to Berlin papers, the Imperial Chancellor, replying to a petition of the German Press Association, stated that he cou' not allow a discussion of German peace aims for the present, but that new press regulations would be issued regarding a free discussion of economic questions and internal politics. The "Frankfurter Zeitung" says that tho meetings which the Social Democratic party announced would be held on Thursday last at Jena to formulate a peace petition to the Imperial Chancellor have been forbidden by tha police.

According to the "Kolnische the Committee of the German Labour Congress held a meeting in the Reichstag on August 16 and 17 at which resolutions were adopted ex pressing the view that for the Te-establishment and further extension of peaceful labour the German nation needed a position on the Continent so strong that it would he difficult to attack her. The development of German influence and German economic life on the high seas is also a necessity. In regard to internal welfare popular reorganisation of Prussian electoral rights is a necessity. Finally the resolution declares: "As long as the enemy attacks the Empire and the strength of our so long- will continue our iron determination to hold on without hesitation. Convinced that unity and concord are necessary conditions for the swifter termination of war.

we unanimously support the political and military regime of tne empire. The Telegraaf 's on tha frontier reports that there is a great scarcity of potatoes again at numerous places in Germany, The "Frankfurter Zeitung" in a leading article says the hope that with the new harvest the potato supply would do Detter reguiatea has again not. been realised. After a short period of plenty a time of severe scarcity has followed. UNDERFED CHILDREN.

(Reuter's Correspondent.) Tuesday. Learning that Swiss children in Germany were suffering from the scarcity of food there, the Swiss Federal Council recently granted an appro priation from the National Relief Fund to bring them-home to Switzerland. So far arrange ments have been made to bring 600, and tho first party of 60 have just arrived at Berne. Though many of them come from families in good circumstances, their nale cheeks and generally weak appearance show that they have been poorly fed. The Swiss school doctor who examined them reports that the majority- are sunering irom anaemia in various stages.

The children will be kept in holiday homes in various parts of the country. REDUCTION OF INSANITY DURING THE WAR. CONCLUSIONS OF A MEDICAL EXPERT. (From odr Correspondent.) Belfast, Saturday Nisht. Dr.

-William Graham, resident medical superintendent of the. Belfast District Asylum, and one of the greatest livinir Irish authorities on mental diseases, makes important references to the effect of the war on insanity in his annual report issued to-day. The number of admissions to the asylum during the past year, he says, "show a marked diminution as compared with the average for the past ten years, and the interesting, and at first sight paradoxical, fact' is that this diminution takes place at a time when we are engaged in the greatest war in the history of the world. It has been a common place since August, 1914, to say that the world was going mad. Yet the fact is indisputable that insanity, like crime, has lessened during the period of the war.

It will not do to say that the vast number of men to the colours include some who'might otherwise be reckoned among our asylum population, for the greatest reduction is among women, 119' being admitted in 1915, against 154 in 1914." Dealing with the future, Dr. Graham says: There are solid grounds for hopethatespecially, although not exclusively, among women we shall' see a great diminution of these neurntio disorders that form part of the general problem of mental abnormality. Thousands of men wh have gone or are preparing to go to the front have all their life-time been subject to the bondage of neurasthenic weakness and- incapacity or of. psychasthenic fears. They have never known what it is to live.

But at their country's cail they have flung from them tho spell of ancient inhibitions and long-established! impracticabilities, and have gone forth to face wounds and death. Only when summoned' to a possible surrender of life they have learned how wonderful life is. "Especially significant. is the change coming wi vi wuiiiku oi ine miaauai vjiujocb. iiiKoo Biieuereo.

daughters ot tne mer chant or the professional man, victims of mid-yictonan traditions' of gentility, are now iallimr i into line with their -sisters of the upper and bumpier social ranks, and are discovering that-life is something greater than -the latest novel from Mudie or a game of tennis or even tha tepid of a church sewing society. Idle ness and ennui have lost their hold; healthy and unselfish activity is now the prevailing fashion. The war has enfranchised women, fo it has set them free from the benumbing con ventionalities that threatened to stifle theif psychic energies, and so far it has contribufoci to soundness of mind and nerve." A MYTHICAL FORTUNE. ALLEGED DEAD MAN IN. THE WITNESSBOX.

At the West London Police Court on Saturday Minnie Marie Beatrice Bannerman Brooke, 50, housekeeper, was charged -with obtaining 9 by false pretences from George Henry Christmas Collier, of Brook Green, Hammersmith. Collier etated that he met. the-woman when she-was housekeeper at I a house where he staying. She produced letters and telegrams in support of a story that she was entitled to 25,000 under the will of, Mr. a retired civil servant.

said' that Be' bad a pension of 750 a year rorn' the Government. About May 7 she produced a telegram purporting; come from thev11octor yatteriding-air. Ockley, who was said Jongs? -exolay die. shewed a telegram said to come, frprn solicitors stating that Mr. Ockley had died.

She de.8eifberj the coffin- she was ordering, saying that was to be, very plain and witblvHttle or no embellishment She told him that iBa-left sole under the wiiTafi.aa fritJSik Trol of.the nronertw T'Worild JinCl firWV" Mr. Arthur Ockley, a tall; hale-locAfn. 4, rT urtM us lVli Rftroflw SeedmaMid she said Marv oa waa cmifK "African war. Ho -t'aiirin tv was untrue WIJ a to bis will mrtgRt- n-Mr. (to Brookei questions-: to-vask Mr.

Oeklpv? SXS never died, and that you -P" aafs BuiJinres vi for use by the public at large are only three- quarters of what they were in 1915, and though arrangements have been made whereby com-j raercial jam makers, who cater for tha residents in towns, can get their normal supplies on certain conditions, it is not possible to secure i this advantage for private families who wish to' preserve their own home-grown fruit. ouch persons cannot at the best obtain more than three-quarters of the amount they obtained last from their household lunnfies. and to maie up the remainder with the sugar known as ci-jcose, which is at the present time obtainable considerable quantities in England. wnicn is sold under tne name or corn syrup, is preparation made in England, and also im- ported from America, and is extensively used in the manufacture of confectionery and sweets, especially in acid and toffee. Corn svrun i can satisfactorily be used in the manufacture of home-made iam- if the following precautions Cire ohsened 1.

Xot more than one part of corn ej'rup sr.ouiri ne added to two ot sugar, i.e., tne syrup -1 l.I t- 7 i 1 should be 35 per cent of the preservative, and lLt ltJJS approximately equal to the weicht of the fruit iioca. (ine coirect proportion vanes sligntly Aith the kind uf fruit used.) 2. The jrtin ghouid le boiled till it gets the right consistency. The usual test for this is to dip a knife into the boiling jam and see if the jam will banc from the edce in a dron. Jam which contains more than 35 per cent of water will not keep.

3. The jam should be covered with waxed paper, or a thin sheet of paper dipped in gome spirit such as whisky, to prevent the introduc tion- oi mouaa spores, and tnen tied down tightly with another sheet of paper. Corn 6tu contains about 20 per cent of water, and id riot, as sweet as sugar. This is not a disadvantage to those who like to retain the full flavour of the fruit in their jam, but those who prefer a very sweet jam should use a smaller portion of the syrup. It also makes jam "set" better than sugar and prevents re-crystalhsation, a common fault in home-made jams.

Although glucose is prescribed as a food for invalids, and is used to a large extent in confectionery, it has not come into common use in domestic cookery. With the object of popularising its use at the present orisis, therefore, tiie Board have been in communication with the principal manufacturers and importers, and have ascertained that there are considerable stocks of corn syrup, in the country- The wholesale price is at present less than two-thirds of the wholesale price of sugar, and corn syrup can be obtained in 6-cwt. barrels, which should permit it to be sold retail at not more than 4Jd. a pound. It can be obtained from some manufacturers in 141b.

tins at about that rate, and from others in lowt. kegs. The Board will send a iist of the principal "firms to any applicant who wishes to make home-made jam in the manner recommended above. BURNLEY ENGINEERS AND PIECEWORK. BOARD OF TRADE ARBITRATION.

The result of a Board of Trade arbitration concerning piecework in the Burnley engineering trade has just been announced. Some months ago the employers invited the representatives of the various trade unions concerned to withdraw their ban on piecework in the Burnley area. The matter was the. subject of a local conference between the Burnley and District Engineering Trades' Employers' Association and the operative associations interested. The men rejected the rninWi-rs- proposal to introduce piecework.

The question went, torwara to a central conference at York, iicii5 Luc icLjivcuufciiives oi ine men again resisted the proposal. tne two sides having failed to agree, the employers annealed to the Ministrv rf who gave it as their opinion that the men's refusal to withdraw the restriction work was acting in restriction of outout and hm. luciviuic vuuwaiir iv iu iuuniuons Act, Againsi mis ruling uie joint engineering societies on uenalf of the men appealed to the nuara oi iraue. who. in acoornanco with ha machinery provided under the Munition Aor an mucpcuucui aroibrator to nola an inquiry at Burnley.

Mr. Page, K.C., sat at Burnley and took evidence from both sides. He has decideil that the restriction on piecework was operating so as to restrict production and must be withdrawn. It is understood that the employers will now introduce piecework in their establishments, which are virtually all en- gagea on war material. ine area anected by the award embraces Burnley, Nelson, and OFFENCES AGAINST LIGHTING REGULATIONS.

EAST COAST PROSECUTIONS. At a police court in a district on the north east coast on Saturday heavy fines were imposed on householders and others for lighting offences during a recent Zeppelin raid and oa other dates. One man was 'sent to prison. Fred Hutchison (33), engineman, was fined 10, and was warned that if he came again he would be sent to gaol. In this case a constaWp he saw a light shining from a skylight in the defendant's house and found the man asleep i 1.

1 V. tl in ueu ibn Laiiuii; ii was at Io a.m. on tne atn ana mere was an enemy aircraft over the village. Joseph Mead (55). watchmaker, was also fined 10.

According to the police, in the earlv ing of the 9th just after a Zeppelin had passed over the district, a bright light was seen from an unshaded window. The defendant pleaded mat tne wiuaow was snaded. William Onion (72), grocer, was sent to orison for a month. In this case the police evidence was tliat at 10 30on the night of the 8th a light was seen from the defendant house, and he was told to extinguish it, as Zeppelins were in the immediate vicinitv. At 2 1 30 1 on the morning of the 9th another bright light was seen from the house.

ifPiriS- iSf? had been warned by a snecial constable. Joseph Eadesforth (33), miner, was fined 2 ior an onence on tne lain msu. ana xnomas Davison (221. miner, was fined a like sum for an offence on the 12th inst. THE BYELECTIONS.

Nominations for the vacancy in the Colne Vallev division will be received on Fridav nut and the following Friday has been-fixed for urV; air tW wh7 vUln i h.X liUL.uaiu weir cuiiuiiiiun. lliuv snouia polling day. At present there seems little like-! At MarPle on the occasion of Private Ben-lihood of opposition to the Liberal nominee, nett's funeral all places qf business were V- A iaoour ts now settiea tnat no aoaun canoioate wui be put ZTirZioT ,7 Battalion West Kent Volunteers Fe'ncibles forward. The local Socialist Society, which was Council Offices the Union Jack was flying half-' Saturday afternoonf Major General Dickie! expelled from the I.L.P. after tie election of mast high honour of his memory.

The engineer, of the London defences, im-Mr. Victor Grayson in 1908, intended to contest MarPle Ban h.eded onZ and Dressed upon the members of the battalion tha sounded. Those responsible had not the decency to cover the coffin with the Union Jack under which' this hero had. fought so gallantly, ir.C playea.me Jaarcn irom his Home to the church. The coffin was draped with the Union Jack and the hearse was covered with flowers, and on each side of it walked wounded soldiers from -Brooyns Auxiliary Hospital.

Maeis- trates were in me procession. There was a large turn-oui oi memDers oi tne unesinre Volunteer Regiment and the chairman of the District Council was Dresenr. The streets tdi lined with, crowds of sympathisers. At the church there was a great gathering. A firing -na-rtv fiwrf a.

laid-. t.c was sounded over the grave. the seat it the next general election, but in view of the cacumetanees under which the been made they are not now dis- vacancy has posed to intervene. Local Socialist leaders are aiviaea on ine war, ana it would be impossible tor tnem to agree x.pon united support for Ml mwuxix uKxif ue put, lorwajtl at present. uionel bir Charles Seely has been invited hv trie Liberal Executive of the Mansfield division to address them with a view to his adoption as candidate for the vacancv caused hv th Ath of Sir Arthur Mark ham..