A ship is sunk, debate over work for interned Germans, and a very valuable cow

March 1st, 1916 The French official review reports the sinking of the transport ship, the Provence II, in the Mediterranean. She had about 1,800 men aboard, including crew, and it is estimated that of these some 870 have been saved.

German ambassador to the US Count Bernstorff has notified the Washington government of Germany's "fixed intention" to sink armed merchantmen without warning as from midnight and The Irish Times says "we may assume that the new submarine campaign is now in force".

An Order in Council published in the London Gazette last night suspends for a further six months the putting into operation of the Government of Ireland Act.

The Commons is told, in reply to a question by one of the Irish members, that there are at present 575 interned Germans in Ireland, but that as these men are all civilians they could not be forced to work otherwise than in the maintenance of their camps. It is suggested that the German prisoners should be put on useful work, such as the drainage of the Barrow.

On the vote for the Department of Munitions, Sir Thomas Esmonde and Mr T M Healy ask that a more liberal share of munition work should be given to Ireland.

Fourteen of the Irish Benedictine nuns who had to fly from Ypres, left Euston last night by the Irish mail for Dublin, en route to Co Wexford, where they are establishing a convent. A fund has been inaugurated by Mr John Redmond (inset) for the purpose of enabling the sisters to re-establish themselves in Ireland.

“A Valuable Cow”: It is reported that Mr M Walshe, Kilteevan, Roscommon, has in his possession a cow, which, since May 1913, has given birth to eight calves, four sets of twins.

New public office: “The scheme of alteration and extension of the General Post Office, which had for one of its chief objects the provision of a public office in harmony with the importance of the City of Dublin, is now approaching completion, and the new office will be opened to the public on Monday next.”

Copenhagen: The Ribe Stiftstidende reports that persons returning from Berlin relate that large and serious demonstrations took place in the streets of the German capital a few days ago. Huge crowds of women, estimated at 10,000 gathered in the Unter den Linden, near the palace, and marched along shouting, "Bread or peace".

Mounted police rode into the mob which then scattered. No shots were fired.