THE GREAT BURNING QUESTION

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2487, 14 June 1915, Page 5

THE GREAT BURNING QUESTION

WAR MUNITIONS FOR THE BRITISH FRONT NEW MINISTRY AT WORK POWERFUL SPEECHES BY MR. LLOYD GEORGE (Reo. June 18, 2.10 p.m.) / London, June 12. Mr. Lloyd George, Minister of Munitions, addressing a Munitions Conference at Cardiff, urged recruiting, and said every lathe in every workshop should turn out sheila. Britain having entered the war could not <>o hack without wiping its name from tie map of the world as a great Power. , Continuing, Mr. Lloyd George emphasised tie- fact that he wanted two or three war factories in South Wales. Patriotism had already been shown in Glamorganshire's 08,300 recruits and iMonmouthshire's 18,608. His appeal was not for more men, but for the support of those at the front. "Too many valleys in South 'Wales," he said, "have become valleys of shadows. We are sending more men. We want them not merely to win viotory for us. We want them to return and rejoice with us in that victory which their ralour las captured. Do let us give them a fair chance and a fair fight." What Might Be Done. South Wales, ho added, might adopt Yorkshire's plan by establishing two or three national shell faotories in each area, requisitioning the machinery for them from other workshops in the district; or Lancashire's plan—utilising the existing workshops, with additional machinery in each shop, producing all the shells it could. Alternatively, both methods might be combined. Central national arsenals were being created, with machinery either taken voluntarily or under the Defence of the Realm Act, from other works, while private shops undertook the production of complete shells, or produced incomplete shells for completion, in the national arsenals. Ho favoured the latter plan. "Hoist the Flag on ths Workshop!" Everybody must contribute • to this undertaking. He promised that no manufacturer who took up shell-making would suffer by the competition of unpatriotic rivals who did no shell-making, "1 am asking you," he concluded, "to plant the Flag on your workshops, convert 3rour lathes and machinery into battalions which will drive the foe from those lands which are tortured, trampled, and disgraced,' so that Liberty may again be enthroned." APPEAL TO THE WESTERN INDUSTRIES MR. LLOYD GEORGE AT BRISTOL. *A DELUGE OF SHELLS" WANTED. (Reo. June 18, 4 p.m.) London, June 12. Mr. Lloyd George, speaking at Bristol, addressed a great gathering, representative of the Western industries concerned in war munitions and the British engineering trade. The Minister said that Britain could not win the war without them—victory would bo impossible. He understood that Bristol was suffering from a scarcity of labour. Firms had been asked to furnish t'he names of skilled labourers who would be more useful at Home than in the trenches, ind Lord Kitchener had instructed that they should be dug out, and invited to return from the £ront.~*"*He appealed to the Labour leaders to use their influence to secure tho suspension of tho union regulations preventing unskilled and girl labour during the war, "We have heard of Neuve Chappelle," said Mr. Lloyd George, "but we want a deluge of shells to rain for forty dayß and forty nights without ceasing. • Then shall we hear the branking of the German steel barrier, and the cheers of tho British infantry marohing through the enemy's shattered entrenchments to victory." Mr. Lloyd George's speech was busi-ness-like, and not rhotorical. He pleaded for a sufficiency of high explosives to enable tho soldiers to crash their way through to victory. "You can supply them," he declared. "If you do, fewer lives will be lost. We hardly liko to use the words: 'Short of shells.' Yes! I will I .That is the fact._ Wo want it, need it, and must . get it. You can give it, and, whatever you do, I hope you will do quickly Time here means lives, and tho more shells, the surer and speedier the victory." Response to the Appeal, 2CI the close of the meeting Mr. Lysaght, owner ,of large engineering works at Newport, placed them at the disposal of the State. Mr. Lloyd George announced that specimens of the shells needed would ■ shortly be exhibited at Cardiff, Newport, and Swansea. Advices from Glasgow stated that eight of Beurdmore's workmen, with tho Amalgamated Society of Engineers' organising delegates, had gone to the front for a week to see the soldiers' actual needs, and the visit was likely to be followed by others from different centres with a view to stimulating' the output of munitions. COMPLAINTS OF DELAY, FARMING AND EQUIPPING THE NEW ARMIES. (Rec. June 12. 0.15 p.m.) ~ . London, June 11. Speamng m the House of Commons, tho Prime Minister, Mr. Asyiith, replying to a statement expressing dissatisfaction with the training of tho rooruits, who, it had been alleged, had been for months without rifles, said that it was not in the public interest to indicate the oxtent to which thoy were arming and equipping the new troops. All delays were .beinsc made good. "iUI tho men who offer are wanted." Mr. Asquitli added that, no occasion had arisen for Parliament to sit behind closed doors. The advocacy of peace, ho saiJ, referring (o another, matter, could not bo treated as an offence under tho Defence of the Realm !Act. He believed that the desire for sn honourable, lasting peace was shared >>y '4.11 classes, but- ho saw no reason'why iie should receive a deputation urging the termination of the war.—"Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.