, 1916-01-15

the new German war levy of 4O,OOO,0O0
francs monthly in addition 10 last years tax
of 4SO, OOO, 900 francs. The Belgian protest,
the correspondent says, will point out TINT
under the provisions OF the Hague Confer
ence war taxes levied in occupied terri
tory are limited to amounts necessary
10 meet needs OF the army Of occupa-
ton or to pay for the Administration OF
the territory in question.
New York, Jan. 12th.-A News Agency
cable from London says: "Infantry losses on
all fronts now average Is per cent mon hIy
Mr.. Tenant informed the House of Com
mons this Afternoon, IN expla DlnS why the
Government found it necessary to adopt con-
~scription to fill the ranks. These figures
take into account soldiers relieved from duty
because of wounds, but who afterwards re-
cover and return to the front.
New York, Jan 12th.-A News despatch
from Rome to-day says: CATER spending
nearly eight months at the front with his a
troops King Emmanuel returned to Rome
to-day. His arrival was unexpected and
therefore accompanied by no demonstration.
Whether the King intends TO leturn to Gen
eral Cadorna's Headquarters has not been
announced.
London. Jan. 12th-Ctttinie now seems
likely to suffer the fate OF Belgrade, and
British observers are already asking anx-
iously what menace the Austrian conquest
of Montenegro is likely to hold over the
Allies at Salonica. Fighting is going Tn
all around Cettinje. Never sbefore III the
long history of the little Monleneglln king
dom has it been compelled to bow to a for
eign conquest, but there seems little hope
that it can long withstand the ovelwhelm-
ing strength in men and guns OF Gene
raj Koevess. AS in SerbiN's case the En-
Ioria DroCc 6OAa it InHXOIlCuDl0 WLV
Italian assistance was not sent long
ago to Lofceu, which, it Is said, could
have been rendered impregnoble with a com
paratively small number Of relntorcements
and q few heavy guns. The reduction OF
Montenegro, the Press points out, will enable
Austria not only to Omman the Adrlatlc
but also threaten the flank Of any advance
from Snlonica and prevent any effective
move by the Entente forces through ALBANIA.
For Italy the new Austrian success has o
most serious aspect. The long narrow Ita-
liam peninsula is peculiarly vulnerable TO an
attack from the sea. Any real great Austri-
al naval base in the magnificent harbour of
Cattaro would have been impossible without
Iofceu. but under the new circumstances
Austrian possession of Cattaro is almost rs
great a menace to Italy as the German CON
quest of Calais would have been to Great
Britain.
London, January 12th.-There is a great
spirit of optimism in both British and French
dispatches from The Western front, the cor
respondents expressing the fra conviction
Of he Allied Generals that there is no posi-
bility Ct any successful German offensive
anywhere in the West lines. The correspon-
dent OF Reuters Telegraph Company sends
from British Headquarters an interview with
an unnamed prominent Staff Officer who WAS
quoted as saying:"We now have full informa-
ton about the German forces facing us. We
know the exact number OF them in both fields,
and heavy artillery and our weapons are bet
ter than theirs. We can fire five shells to
their one without depicting our ammuni-
lions. We can take their first line of trenches
whenever we wish. To say that we have
got them beaten is dangerous rubbish,
but the truth is, we have got them ready for
a beating.
London, Jan. 12th.-Amid scenes of up
roarions enthusiasm the House of Commons
at eleven o'clock tonight defeated a motion
to reject the Military Service Bill by a vote
: of 431 to 80. Immediately afterward the
House acceded to the Premier's request by
passing the second reading of the Bill with
out division. The vote was chiefly interesting
on account of the changed attitude of many
~ n xI o1,1ooo1 ~ an tho LOT