BRITAIN'S NEW WAR CABINET

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2473, 28 May 1915, Page 5

BRITAIN'S NEW WAR CABINET

FURTHER APPOINTMENTS UNIONISTS LOYAL TO THE COALITION MEETING OP THE PARTY (Rec. May 27, 8.15 p.m.) London, May 27. The following Ministerial appoint- 1 ments, outside the Cabinet, are announced :— Postmaster-General : t Mr. Herbert Samuel (formerly President of the Local Government Board). 1 Solicitor-General: Mr. F. E. Smith (Unionist). Secretary to the Treasury: Hon. E. S. Montagu (previous appointment). MEETING OF THE UNIONIST , PARTY. i UNANIMOUS DETERMINATION. (Rec. May 27, Bio p.m.) ' London, May 27. The Unionist Party, at a meeting at the Carlton Club, over which Lord Lansdowne presided, -displayed the utmost unanimity in supporting the coalition for bringing the war to a successful termination at the earliest time. Mr. Bonar Law, amid cheers, read a ] letter from Air. Asquitli inviting i Unionists to elite]' a Cabiiiot with ' which after long consideration it was I decided to conduct the war to a sue- : eessful issue. This could not be effect- i ed except by a Cabinet representing all j parlies. After consultation with Lord Lansdowne and oilier lenders -Mr. Bonar I Law accepted the invitation. Mr. Bonar Law, continuing, said thai the Unionists were entering the coalition with tho fixed determination te act loyally towards every member of ' the Cabinet, putting aside all thought of Home Utile, Wclsli Church, and oilier, parly questions. We all rcgrH that Mr. Redmond ha-s not. joined the new Government. We must realise that it i? entitled tn rcl with tlir r-trength of ' > 6»v«riuueul übfch the nation bo> * Hindis I*

Lord St. Aldwyn approved of the coalition. Lord Lansdowne said that there had been shortcomings and miscalculations over the conduct of the war. "We are not sure that we are getting enough of the right men. It is common knowledge that the failure to supply the essential munitions has many times interfered with our military operations. The staying power of the country is going to be taxed as it has never before been taxed. The Opposition, therefore, felt bound to accept its share of the responsibility." FRENCH PRESS COMMENT ON NEW CABINET. (Reo. May 27, 9.15 p.m.) Paris, May 27. The Paris newspapers favourably comment on the new Cabinet, particularly on the inclusion of Lord Lansdowne, who was the principal negotiator for the Entente Cordia'.e. ' Satisfaction is also expressed that Mr. Churchill will remain in the Cabinet. . RUMOURS OF MR, ASQUITH RETIRING. London, May 26. The "Manchester Gnardian" says that there are rumours that Mr. Asquith may ultimately leave the Treasury Benches, Mr.. Lloyd George becoming Prime Minister. This, it is declared, is not without foundation. CENTRAL BOARD OF LIQUOR CONTROL. LORD D'ABERNON, CHAIRMAN. London, May 26. Lord D'Abernou (better known as Sir Edgar Vincent, chairman of the Dominions' Royal Trade Commission) is chairman of the Central Board t<; deal with 1 the drink question in the munitions and transport areas. Tho Board includes Mr. John Hodge (Labour M.P. for S.E. Lanes.), Sir William Lever, and Mr. Philip Snowden (Labour jr. P. for Blackburn). TERRIBLE PLIGHT OF THE ARMY. STRONG REMARKS BY THE DUKE OK RUTLAND. (lice. .May L>7, 11.1,0 p.m.) London, Mav 27. The Duke of Rutland, speaking .it Leicester, said tlwi he -poke with"certain kiw"-!ed:'s when lie said that th« s«uji at the frgnt were suli'eriuK atomic

able tortures from tho mo6t hopeless • forgetfulness on the part of the military authorities in respect to tho creation and constant supply of guns and shells. There was not the thousandth part of tho explosivo shells supplied that were required. Regiments went into the trenches with, a couple of dozen build-grenades. He believed that Mr. Lloyd George was one of the few men capable of puttin;; the matter on a strong and energetic business footing. NATIONAL SERVICE. THE CALL FOR MEN AND MUNITIONS. (Uec. May 27, 5 p.m.) London, May 26. Tho London "Times," in a. leading article, observes that the remarks of tho Bishop of Pretoria confirm _ the | urgent and imperative need for national service in its broadest sense. It lias taken ten long months of slaughter to awaken the nation to the immensity of the task before them. The -immensity of tho effort demanded will only be accomplished by Britain's whole strength, disciplined, marshalled, and co-ordinated on all sides, military and civil. The people now realiso that the Dominions' system of military service was thoroughly democratic), and await the new Government's spoken word, which they are ready to obey.—"Times and Sydney "Sun" services. The Bishop of Pretoria (the Ripfrt Jiev. M. B. Fiirsc), in a letter to the "'J'imes," after a month's visit to the Army in Northern France and Flanders, appealed to tho nation to adopt compulsory service. "Tho troops," he "think that the nation -is not backing them up as it could and should. They feel that the ignorance and apathy at Home are needlessly increasing their danger and losses. The troops know," ho said, "that it is a little short of murder to ask men, however full of the right spirit, to face an enemy amply equipped with big guns and the right ammunition unless they are equipped with' equally effective munitions." LORD MILNER'S APPEAL. (Rec. May 27, 11.35 p.m.) London, May; 27. Lord Milner, in a letter to "The Times," says the change of Ministry will not bring victory without a change of method. Nine-tenths of the hitches, delays, blunders, and widespread uneasiness and discontent are due to the fact that tho country still clings to the voluntary system, while the enemy is organised on the principle of national service throughout. "This handicap is too enormouß. The spirit of the nation is excellent, and will supply tho needs under firm leadership. There ought to be a census in order that the country may call men out in their right order —the younger before the older, the unmarried before the married. If the present call for 300,000 succaeds it will be needlessly disorganising and wasteful, because cf the unfairness of leaving to the individual to decide who is to bear the bur- j den, and 1 will • become increasingly dis-! turbing to the public mind. Tho pre-, sent method is unfair to our soldiers) and Allies, and to thousands of men, and some who are unjustly denounced as slackers and cowards, when they are really ignorant and bewildered. "We have hitherto relied too exclusively on the pick of our people, but it is high time we onrolled : the whole of our able-bodied manhood. Tho nation is ready to obey, and only needs'the captain on the bridge to give the signal."