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1 ! I . ; 5 - GENERAL NEWS NOTES OF THE DAY. Official England is silent on the peace proposal s.iys a London dispatch worded as follows: Official Great Britain is silent. It is stated that Germanys peace proposition has not been received yet, and hence comment must be deferred. The real reason, however, is that Britain is nof assuming the responsibility of repudiating Germanys overtures. Until there has been a consultation of all concerned i.o official announcement may be expected. But, although official opinion is officially withheld, there is no mistaking the attitude here. England is not for peace. There is the strongest possible reason for believing that although Germany has not yet openly enunciated its possible terms, the allied governments are aware of the fullest extent to which the central powers are prepared to go and on such terms the allies are not prepared to negotiate. On the contrary, they are confident that their fortunes will rise, and are sure of resources and stamina. They prefer to fight on until that moment when they can dictate their own terms. The prevailing view is expressed as follows:: First It is a gigantic bluff. Second Germany hopes that its proposal might possibly bring peace. Third Germany hopes its suggestion will work for the disruption of the allies. Fourth Germany plans fixing upon the allies, and particularly Great Britain, the blame for a continuation of bloodshed. Premier Briand, in a speech in the Chamber of Deputies on German peace proposals, warned France to beware of its enemies, says a cable from Paris, couched in the following language: Premier Briand, in the Chamber of Deputies today, made a speech on the German imperial chancellors peace proposal, in which he warned the country to beware of Frances enemies. He added that France would not do less in the premises than the other members of the allied conference. "I have the duty to place my country on guard against possible poisoning," said M. Briand, amid applause. "When a country arms itself to the teeth, when it seizes men everywhere in violation of the laws of nations, and enforces labor upon them, I should be guilty if I did not cry out to my country: Look out! Take care! I have the right, in the first place, to say to our enemies for the hundredth time, The blood is on your hands, not upon ours. Not that I doubt the clear-sightedness of my country, but in the face of these attempts to spread dissension among the allies I exclaim, The French republic will not do less than the convention. " The Times Syra correspondent, telegraphing to London, says: "Venlzelist troops hnve just disembarked at Hermonolis, the port of Syra, and the island pnsses under the rule of the national govern-j ment. Crowds cheered the troops as they landed. ltoyulist officers and men of the local forces are de- taiued under a British safeguard, but several of the men have declared their wish to join the national army, and have been accepted. The remain-der of the Cyclades islands will shortly be taken over by the national government. The new governor is abodt to land." England is preparing to call 1,000,000 additional men to the colors. A supplementary estimate : 1 r I ! issued yesterday provides for the calling of these men during the present year. They are to serve in all lanks. The original estimate was for 4.000.-000 men. The vote of credit for ,000,000,000 which was moved yesterday is the fourteenth since the beginning of the war. It brings the grand total up to 3,532,000,000 pounds, or 7,000,000,000. A late dispatcli yesterday from London says the condition of Premier David Lloyd George lias taken a slight turn for the worse. He suffered considerably from a severe chill contracted early in the week and his physicians have ordered him to remain in bed a few days more. Friends of the premier express the hope that he will be able to appear in the house of commons next Tuesday as planned. A telegraph message from Eureka, Cal., reads as follows: The United States submarine 11-3, commanded by Lieutenant Commander II. B. Bogusch, went ashore in a fog early today. on a shoal in Humboldt bay. The boat was rolling heavily this morning at an angle of 45 degrees, but watchers ashore heard it whistle three blasts, "All safe." The Austrian government has resigned. This announcement is made in a Reuter dispatcli from Am sterdam. The emperor has accepted the resigna-tious and has entrusted Alexander Spitzmueller with the formation of a new cabinet. Herr Spitzmueller is a former minister 6f commerce and u former director of the Kredit Anstalt. The ministry of Dr. von Koerber, which has resigned, succeeded that of Count Karl Stuergkh, who recently was assasi-nated. Fully alive to the dangers of delay in dealing with what he termed the unsatisfactory situation in Greece, Lord Robert Cecil told the house of commons yesterday afternoon that the entente allies were about to present certain demands to the Grefck government for the purpose of clearing it up. French opinion that Germany is planning some dramatic naval diversion is reflected in naval and shipping quarters here. One naval authority, speaking this evening, said Germany was about due to make another "hammer blow," as Germany describes such actions. The entire crew of the Canadian torpedo boat Grilse, consisting of forty-four men and a boy, are believed to have been lost through the sinking of the vessel in the gale which swept the Halifax coast Wednesday.
