BRITAIN'S PART.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16148, 28 February 1918, Page 7

BRITAIN'S PART.

THE WAR OUTLOOK. NO GROUND FOR DISCOURAGEMENT. (iiy Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright.) (Keuter's Telegrams.) (Received February 27th, 8.2-5 p.m.) LONDON, February 21. Mr Bonar Law, in a speech at the Aldwych Club, said that tho National "War Bonds were assured of success. Already they had raised more than tho total new money secured by tho 4J per cent, war loan. We had a rugged path to climb, but there was no ground for discouragement or faint-heartcdncss. Germany could not break our lines. All Germany's peace talk was froth. It' it were possible to have an election in Britain at the present time, the plain issue would bo tho continuing of the war until we secured the results for which we had entered it- Tho reMtlti would astonish us and our one--mics. HOME ESTABLISHMENT VOTE. (By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright.; (Australian and N.is. Cablo Association.) (Rcccivcd February 27th, 8.5 p.m.) t nwnnv on

LONDON, February 20. The House of Commons voted £5,000,000 for men of the Homo and colonial establishment, including men in the air force, but excluding those serving in India. PROSPECTS OF ANGLO-JAPANESE CONVENTION. (.Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Received February 27th, 10.30 p.m.) LONDON, February 20. In the House of Commons, questioned as to the prospects of an Anglo.Japanesc Military Convention, Mr Balfour said that if the question meant a convention upon reciprocal military services, such a convention was unlikely. THE NEW TRADE COMMISSIONERS (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Received February .27th, 10.30 p.m.) LONDON, February 26. In the House of Commons, Mr Arthui Steel-Maitland, in introducing the Estimates for the Department of Overseas Trade, stated that, out of 16 Imperial Trade Commissionores, 13 had been sanctioned, and nine actually appointed. British Consuls in futuro would bo expected to deal adequately with their districts while the duty of commercial attaches would bo to keep the Government informed regarding the general financial development and economic state of the country where they were stationod; also to keep a constant watch in order that any system of commercial penetration attempted by our rivals should be clearly understood and knowledge thereof put at the disposal of the British trading community. SERIOUS SHIPPING OUTLOOK. (Received February 27th, 10.30 p.m.) LONDON, February 26. Mr George Barnes, the Labour Minister, has appealed to the shipyard workers to put their backs into their work. Last month, he states, less than half the ostimated number of ships wero turned out, and this month the position had not improved. The matter was very serious, because as regards shipbuilding America was failing us. "We must construct a much larger number if we were to gel through the trouble of the next few month's. THE AIR WAR. BRITISH! AVIATORS' EXPLOITS. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Received February 27th, 11.50 p.m. LONDON, February 27. The Air Ministry announces that from February Ist to February 22nd the Royal Flying Corps brought dowr 114 enemy machines, and anti-aircrafl guns brought down six. The British lost 28 machines during the same period. On the Italian front the Britisl: brought down 68 enemy machines, anc lost eight. SOUTH AFRICA'S FUTURE. DEPENDS ON BRITISH SUCCESS. (Renter's TelegTams.) ■ (Received February 27th, 8.25 p.m.) CAPE TOWN, February 26. The Assembly adopted Genera > Botha's motion granting leave of at • sence to General Smuts by 78 votes t ' 22. n ' The Nationalists strongly oppose the measure, declaring that they wer * not concerned with what General Smut was doing for the British Empire. Wha ; they wanted to know was what he wa doing as a Minister of the Union. General Botha, replied that peac might come at any time. Genen Smuts could then look after Sout ' Africa's interests at the peace confei L . ence. In rebuttal of the Nationalists' con J plaint, General Botha said that as a

integral part of the Empire, South Africa had to do things now which in ordinary circumstances it might not have dreamt of. Ho intended to stanc. by tho Empire because it "was on. the present success of tho Empire th.'U South Africa's future depended.