BRITAIN'S PART

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16144, 23 February 1918, Page 9

BRITAIN'S PART

POLITICAL UNREST. LORD DERBY'S RESIGNATION DEMANDED. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Received February 22nd, 7.40 p.m.) 3 LONDON, February 21. In tho House of Commons, Major David Davies demanded that Lord Derby (War Minister) should be removed from officc for having ployed the fool in tho crisis of tho past three months, and for failing to stop the Press campaign against tho generals at a time - when they ought to have been collaborating to tho utmost upon schemes ni defence. The debate was adjourned. WAR MINISTER'S RETIREMENT LIKELY. j" (By Cable.—Pres3 Association.—CopyrigitJ (Australian and N.Z. Cablo Association.) i- _ LONDON, Februarj' 21. 5- . The "Manchester Guardian" says that it is now probable that Lord Derbv will persist in his resignation. It is likely that Mr Lloyd George will assume tho duties of War Minister temporarily. - According to a message received yesterday Lord Derby had informed ' the ?' House of Lords that lie had forwarded *" his resignation, but that Mr Lloyd 11 George had induced him to remain in c ' office. 'V ™ THE REPORT DENIED >n | v (Australian and X.Z. Cable Association.) (R,eceived February'23rd, 1.20 a.m.) 'k LONDON, February 21. Lord Derby denies that ho has res signed. JARS AT MINSON'S. Jars, jam jars, fruit jars, glass pint jars (no lids) 4s Gd dozen, 21b heavy glass jars from (is, earthenware lib jars 3s dozen, 2lb 4s Cd dozon. Minson's. M 6302 '.p KOLA-NIP--a temperance drink compound —is unique in its keen nutty rc flavour. Can be p;i ven freely to children as well as hdults. Keep a bottle re in the house for friends and visitors. IJ

THE ''.MORNING POST" CASE. LONDON, February 21. Mr H. A. U Wynne, editor of tft® "Morning Post," and Colonel Reping-t-on wore oncli lined £100 and costs tor the publication of an article criticisms the Versailles Conference, which had previously been barred bv the censor. During the hearing of the caso tho defending counsel protested against the Crown basing its case on tlio publication of Colonel Repington's articlo without permission, whereas the Crown should have tried to prove that the article assisted the enemy. Counsel argued that there was no proof of the article being damaging to the national interests. He added: "No patriotic editor would ignore the censor's warning if ho was convinced that tho national interests wore likely to bo injured. But Mr Gwvnno considered it a patriotic duty to inform tho public what was happening at Versailles." Counsel submitted extracts from the German newspapers to show that tho enemy was aware of the Versailles decision respecting the reserves. Notice of appeal -was given. EXECTTIOXS~IX THE ARMY. (Australian tind X.Z. Cablo Association.) (Rocoived Fobruarv 22nd, 7.40 p.m.) LONDON, February 21. In the House of Commons, replying to a suggestion that there ought to bo an expert legal defender when n soldier who had previously'suffered shellshock appealed from the death sentence, Sir J. I. Macphorson (Under-Secretary to the AYar Office) said that, considering the extraordinary numbers in tho Army of all classes and creeds, tho executions for cowardice and desertion had been the smallest in tho world's history. Tho amended regulations domanded that nil favourable facts should bo statod togarding a soldier who lind fallen from grace under tho strain. Unquestionably such a man would receive British justice and fairplay. . CAPTURES IX 1917. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Received February 22nd, 7,40 p.m.) LONDON, February 21. In tho Hot; so of Commons, Mr J. t MacPhorson, Undcr-Socretary to tin "War Office, introducing tho Army Estk mates, said that tho British capture* in 1917 includod:— Heavy howitzers ... IGS Hoorcy guns ... ... 08 Field guns ... ... 437 Trench, mortars ... 1000 Machine-guns ... 2842 Tho Labour Corps now numbered 350.,000. At least 2,000,000 tons oi shipping would bo saved in 1918. I>tiring tho year there had been conveyed to various fronts:— Men ... nearly 7,000,000 Animals ... ... 600,000 Vehicles ... ... 200,000 Stores ... ... 9,500,000 tona LABOUR'S WAR AIMS. THE INTER-ALLIED CONFERENC. PARIS, Fobruary 21. The Government la not obstructing the delegates to the London inter-Allied Conlerence. Tho delegates bavo received a mandate to favour tho returning of occupied colonies to their pre-war owners, and also to favour an economic open door. , 1 - Tlia General Confederation of labour demands a referendum in AlsaceLorraine, under the guarantee of an international commission. REAL BUSINESS POSTPONED. LONDON, February 21. The real business of the inter-Allied Labour and Socialist Conference has been postponed, owing to tho non-arri-val of 'the French, Italian, and Serbian delegates. Only Britain, Belgium, and Roumania aro represented. Mr Ogden, chairman of .the mentaiy Committee of tho Trade Union CongresSi who presided, described tho gathering as unique and the first evidence of tho workers' determination co take a deciding part in the war. The "Daily Chronicle" says:—"Tho Socialist Conference may bo important if it agrees on a common declaration. A similar conference last year proved merely a polyglot chaos, but considerable progress has since been mado. It is regrettable that America, Australasia, and South Africa are not represented, especially bocause British labour's ortra European proposals are the weakest feature of its war aims. How could the young democracies of South Africa, Australia, Now Zealand, and tho American Pacific Coast enjoy peaceful development and freedom in «he future if faced with the menace of Gorman aggression P" DENIAL OF GERMAN INFLUENCE. (Australian and N.Z. Ce.bks Association.)' (Received February 23rd, 1.20 a.m.) [ LONDON. February 21. I Tho inter-Allied Socialist and Labour Conference dccidod emphatically to repudiate the suggestion that, the Con- ' ferenco was under German influence. It is -understood that tho principle of * the League of Nations was approved, l but that there was a cleavage of opinion on the question of territorial adjustments.