, 1914-12-12

Lord Aberdeen, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland,
with the rank of Viceroy.
Further dispatches from Pretoria state
that during a sharp engagement on the banks
of the Vual river General Beyers with others
endeavoured to cross the river. They were
fred on and General Beyers was seen to
fall from his horse. His body drifted down
stream and disappeared.
Advices from Berlin state that DR.. Solf,
Secretary for the Colonies, officially states
that Germany does not intend to perman-
emily occupy the South African Union and
desires that the hostilities which have been
forced upon her by the Union should cease,
If The Union abstains from further hostilities
against German territory, and If the terri
tory invaded is evacuated, so that the South
Africans may establish a neutral state Ger
many, he declares, would officially recognize
this condition and would respect the Unions
territorial integrity and independence as 4
neutral slate.
A Petrograd despatch states that the
Russian Minister Of Finance estimates the
cost of the war to Russia to the end Of DC.
tober at 1,785, 0O0,0 900 roubles. The ex.
penses are being met by various issues oil
short time bonds, Treasury notes and loans
totalling 1850, 100000 roubles, and further
issues both iu the interior and abroad will
be made as circumstances require.
Mr.. Nicholas Alters, a naturalized Eng
lishman and formerly German Consul at Sun
derland. has been convicted at the Durham
assizes OF high treason and sentenced tc
death. After war was declared he obtained
a list of Germans in England eligible for
military service and sent it to Germany at his
own expense.
Baron de Broqueville, Belgian Minister for
War, has Lad q long conference with Lord
Kitchener. His arrival in London, so shortly
after the return of the King, has caused the
belief that his mission is important and
doubtless on financial matters.
Advices from Toxic state that there is a
decrease in the revenue of 98, 00O, 900, but
that u curtailment of expenses will permit of
credits for two additions, army divisions and
the completion of three dreadnoughts, be-
sides the construction of eight t~orpedoboat
destroyers aud two submarines, additional
to the ten destrogers authorized last sum-
mer. Baron Kato, Minister for Foreign Al
fairs, has decIared that japan has not pro
missed to return Kiao- Chao TO China.
Dispatches from Peking state that the
Chinese officials and the Press express dis
appointment at the statement made by
Baron Kato in the Japanese Diet with re-
gard to Kiao-chao,
A despatch from Christiania states that
the Nobel Peace Prize Committee has decid-
ed that it shall not be awarded this year.
New York, Dec. 10th-Washington adj
vices state that the Pan-Amerioan Union, re-
presenting 81 nations, has appointed q Com
mittee of 8 consisting of Mr.. Bryan, the
Brazilian Ambassador and the Ministers of
Chill, Argentina, Uruguay, Peru, Ecuador,
Honduras and Cuba, to formulate the
rights of ~neutrals and maintain them
against belligerents, Opinion in Wash
ington. is unfavourable towards England's
proposal that the United States should
give a guarantee regarding the cargoes of
American vessels in order to avoid a search
at sea, because no American ship has been
found smuggling contraband.
A despatch from Bogota states that the
Colombian Minister for Foreign Affairs has
ordered the removal of the wireless station
at Cartagena.
London, Dec. 1Oth-It is officially an
nounced that on Tuesday morning the Ger
man cruisers "Scharnhorst," "Gneisenau,"
"Nurnberg," "Leipzig," and "Dresden" were
sighted near the Falkland Islands by q Bril-
fish squadron under the command of Vice
Admiral Sir Frederick Sturdee, land an action
followed in the course of which the "Scharn-
horst" flying the flag of Admiral Won Spec,
the "Gneisenau," and the "Leipzig" were
sunk. The "Dresden" and the Gutenberg
made off during the action. but are being
pursued. Two GOLFERS were captured. The
Admiralty reports that the British casualties
were very few. Some survivors were re-
scued from the "Gneisenau" and the
Leipzig"
Dispatches from Amsterdam state that q
bulletin, issued at Berlin, states that the
Kaiser's condition is unchanged. He is un-
able 10 leave his bed and the fever has not
decreased. He received the report of the
military situation on Wednesday, but was
too weak to give instructions to his Staff,
and his physicians have prescribed complete