, 1914-12-26

Company with q capital OF three million
pounds in one pound shares. The Govern
ment will advance one million five hundred
thousand pounds to the Company at four
per cent and will appoint two directors.
The King and Queen watched the parade
Of forty-one ambulances, four officers cars,
five motor lorries and ten motor cycles, a
Christmas gift from the Maharaiau Of
GwaIior.
The Northern Church Council of the
Church Association has appealed to the
Kings Ministers for the Withdrawal of Sir
Henry Towards mission to the Vatican. The
Council regrets thm the Government, at this
crisis ia the nations history, should place
upon the country Il controversy which will
strain 10 the utmost the endeayours of all
loyal Englishmen to sink all differences and
work together for the defence of the EN-
pire.
Sir Eyre Grove, Assistant Under Secretary
OF State for Foreign Affairs, answering a
similar protest by the Protestant Alliance
against Sir Henry Howard's appointment,
sud that the Italian Government was ac-
q|uainted with Sue intention of His Mqjesty's
Government prior t. his appointments, aud
that it is we'll to understand that
missions, either permanent or temporary, to
the Vatican do not run counter to the law
of guarantees, aud have always been admit
ted without question by the Italian Govern
mant.
1t is expected that the Treasury will an
nounce the resumption Of business on the
Stock Exchange on January the fourth. uu-
der severe restrictions. Tue minimum prices
for securities will be extended and only cash
transactions will be permitted. Jobbera will
probably be allowed a certain discretion in
making quotations. Many prefer the present
conditions to the almost entirely non 3pecu
iative period which will follow.
Tbs death has taken place at Lowestoft Of
Mr.. Edward S. Copemau, the inventor of Il
raft for saving life at sea, which has been
adopted throughout the British merchant
service ana which eQrned for him medals
and decorations.
Dispatches from Paris state that "a Gen
erals have been retired by General Joffre,
according to . list published to-day, which
officially confirms the report that the Com
mander-in-Chief is wedding ont the unfit and
incompetent without regaId for rank or in
%tluence. OF ten Generals of Divisions placed
on the reserve list, five have been retired Tor
reasons of health, four for reasons of personal
convenience, while no reason is stated for
the tenth General. Eleven Brigade Generals
have been retired, four for reasons of health
aud two for personal convenience, but no
reasons are given for the other five. The
retirement III one Division of two Byiga1ior-
Generals commanding Colonial troops is re-
corded.
Advices from Beiliu state that the Reich
banks rate has been reduced TO five
Dispatches from Lisbon state that the
Chamber Of Deputies has again voted conf
dence II the new Ministry and that it also
f@vours preparations for joining England in
the war against Germany. The vote was tax
eu immediately after the announcement by
the Colonial Secretary Of another attack by the
Germans upon the province of Angola. Senior
Coutinho, he Premier. declares that although
the Senate declined to give him a vote OF
confidence he will remain in power as long
as he has the confidence of the President OF
PORTUGAL and the S1Dn0rt Of the Democratic