SPECIAL WAR CABLES.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XL, Issue 12537, 7 May 1915, Page 4

SPECIAL WAR CABLES.

(Timkh AND STDNBY SUN Sjcuvioss.) ilir Electric Telkoimph—Copyright, i I'm Press Association. ITALY PIUCI'ARKK. London. May (i. The Times' military correspondent says that since the war Italy had had time "to lit out with war materials, especially field artillery, in which she nad been deficient, but of which piobably her reserves have been developed. The defence ot the North is now complete. Italy's approximate war strength is over a million,.:md the army will commence operations in. the north under extraordinarily favorable conditions. It may reasonably lie hoped' that the summer campaign will realise Italian aspirations it they are strictly limited to the acquisition of Trentino and Trieste. We may expect an enveloping attack ujion the former, with an advance across the Issuza, supported by the navy, the alternative cour.se being a blockade ot Trentino. There is great discussion in Hungary of Italy's possible plan, and a landing in the GttLf of Finnic is frequently discussed. Whatever strategy is adopted, the menace to the Tyrol must, he niei by an advanced deployment, of the great Italian army against Austria. Under existing conditions from Trieste lo Trarvis is the natural line of advance, thence through Grey, upon Vienna. The Times' Paris correspondent says it is believed that only considerationof internal policy and a desire not. to prematurely inflame the country influenced the King or Italy and Ins advisers to absent themselves from the Genoa festivities. It would be an insult to the intelligence of the Italians to believe for a moment that they were swayed by the German diplomatic arguments contained in the bombardment of Dunkirk and tile fierce offensive in the North of .France, French confidence in Italy's decision is unshaken, and an immediate agreement or a nip lure with Austro-Germany is expected.

DEMONSTRATION" IX ROFAIANIA. Lond'on. Mav (>. Tl le Conservatives at Bucharest liav.-uu.-uiimnuslv persuaded. not, to resign. .Crowds attacked tinoffices of the Gcrmanophile pre.ss, burnins the newspapers in the street. The Austrians are fortifying i.lnBnkowina frontier, and' have withdrawn 80.000 f roin the Serbian border to .strengthen the Roumanian fron. tier. NEFTRALS' LOSSES. London, May (!. The Norwegian press writes in a bit. ter tone against the torpedoing of tint irals' vessels. It say.?- it- i.s poor sal is. faction. to the (loot whose ambition j< the mastery of the .sea. The neutrals <an only look to the British fleet for safety.

THE BUDGET PROPOSALS. MP LLOYD-GEORGE ON THE DRINK QFESTION. Received -May fi, at 5.40 p.m. . London. Mav All- Lloyd Grorge, in his Bud.'.'t speech, said he estimated 1 that the in creased taxation would l bring—beet dut.v, £10.000)000; wine dui\. .■C1.34fi.000; tea duty. .£972,000. The income tax altera t'on mrrelv fulfils a pledge to correct ■ :\n anomaly among insurance companies so as to avoid an ey,T : on of payment. Tt is estimated that the property, income (ax, and suoertaxes will produce £IO3,OnO.P.'Vi. Relerring to the financing: of the "i----gantic war cost. Air Llovd George sum'

the ordinary margin of imports over export- was £130,000.000; this year ii, would he £'-1-18,000,000. Britain ha:l practically to finance the purchases ni moNt of her all ios n brond ; . ''We are a I! acting together," remarked Mr Lloyd George. ''This means that 'instead <d financing the difference bet wen: £130,000,000 and we

must finance the dill'eretice between £130.000,000 and £800,000,000. Every section, of the FTou«e must accept fliresponsibility with the Government ler the war. The list thin:/ I desired." sail the Chriurvllor. "was to embark upon; a bitter controversy over ifdrink question. 1 feel in every fibre of my being the ='eriousiie-s of the task. I am not pessimistic, but T never indulged' in foolish hones. Britain entered upon the war in :i snirit of dilvlry. If .she fn : ls, the pro.sp»ect. nf Europe and mankind- will be sad in. deed. 1 am not wedded to inny of ntr proposals, and only appeal £p.r permission to cope with the- difliculty oansv-l by liquor in the munitions areas." Mr Lloyd George denied that- he Vmd made an attack upon the workers, and said: "From tlv beginning the vat majority have been giving every otinc.! of thp'r .strength.'' THE .WORK OF CENSORS. London, Aktv *>. Jli- the II que of Lords- the -Marquis of Ore we, Replying to questions -mi the censorship, said there were I'J;) cable and -wireless stations outside oi Britain, and censoring did not occur .1 many of them. Interference with commercial activities wa.s reduced to :i minimum, but the greatest- care wns necessary to prevent- news from Teaching the enemy. Fifty thousand to!.-, oranis were censored dai'v in Britain bv 180 censors, and there were -10*. elsewhere in tile Empire. The responsible. officials V y o ie persons of undoubted integrity.