AN ACCOUNT OF THEIR STEWARDSHIP

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 205, 18 May 1918, Page 7

AN ACCOUNT OF THEIR STEWARDSHIP

WAR CABINET'S/REPORT TO THE

NATION

NEW FEATURE IN HISTORY

-A novel Blue Bo'uk, which constitutes a new feature in British history, has been issued. It is entitled "The War, Cabinet: Report for the Year 1917," and is (Jubserves the "Daily Mail") tho first attempt to present a survey of the wholo work of Government in one book, written in a style that the public can understand. The War Cabinet—the Premier .and six others—as set up by Mr. Lloyd George at tho end of 1916 to relieve Cabinet Ministers of Departmental work, and allow them to concentrate on co-ordina-tion -and direction. It is tho ccrltral brain of government, , which works through tho various Ministries, old and new, as its limbs. Tho following are salient passages from tho report, which ranges.''over the whole field of government aiul administration 'as afforded by tho war:—

The immediate effect of the new Üboat campaign ill 1917 was to double tho rate of losses incurred in lOlfi. These losses rose rapidly to a climax in March and April. The expansion of the Army's ever-increasing demand for war material, a fall in production, especially of foodstuffs in all Allied'countries, a dcclino in cultivation, and.'tho diversion of a large part of the Allies' shipping to military transportation had already put a severe strain on our- shipping resources. In spite of all difficulties, notably shortage of steel plates' and labour, the output of ships was 1,163,500 tons in 1017, against 5-12,000 in 1910. "By the end of 1918 the rate of output of- all ships, war and merchant, ought to be double that.of any previous year. Men either in tho Navy or supplying naval -needs number over 1,000,000.

War Results Sumrrjarised,

The result of the drastic measures of 1917 has been that, despite all enemy ■'efforts, tho British peoples have been able to- prosecute the war with the-utmost ■.vigour." The Navy has continued to hold its pre-ilomiiiant position at sea, has denied the oceans' to the enemy tor transporting his troops or supplies, and has exercised an ever-growing pressure through . the blockade. Ac ' the same time, though the . submarine menace has not yet been' mastered, the supply both of tho expeditions in .all parts of ■the world and of the civilian, population .at homo has been maintained. It may, indeed,-bo said with confidence that as the" result of the work of tho Navy of he •merchant marine, and' of many civilian sections, of the community, the German attempt to win the war By the destruction oi' tho merchant shipping of tho world has been definitely baffled. Though no decision has been reached, great results have also been achieved. .Despite the Russian defection and transfer of Germans to the West, during-tho whole of ; 1917 tho German forces have been steadily pressed back from one highly-fortified position to another in face of the. systematic assaults of the Allied armies. he ensmy has consist-' ently borne tribute to the terrible power of the British-attacks and to the heavy .losses, both on land and in tho air, which they havu inflicted upon him. The chief successes have been gained at Arras, Mes. sines, and in Flaudel-s. Thesa victories, howover, important as they .were in them, selves, are no adequate index to the effects which the intense pressure exerted bjr the military efforts of tile Allies has had!ill discrediting militarism among the enemy peoples, and- increasing their, longing for peace. Oil the other /.and there has been a ; complete transformation, of; the scene in | the non-European .theatres— German j South-West Africa, Bagdad; Jerusalem, j After a ft )ong period of comparative stag-1 nation and failure, British arms have ! once more advanced to victory,. British J prestige in the East, which had'.-fallen to a low ebb, has been completely restored. Germanic hopes of South-Eastern conquest have been rudely shattered through tho withdrawal of over 100,000 ,square miles 'of .'.'territory from German control, and the capacity of Turkey to '.con.' tiriiie ' tio__war has .been gravely impaired. The military results of the year are thus very considerable. Fr6m being, a. combination of peaceful communities the British Empire stands forth ( as the most powerful of v all the com-' inonwealths' withstanding Prussian 'aggression -The extent ot J his effort, .the unfailing courage and moral of the Bri-tish'armies,-aiid the clear determination of all the British' peoples' to accept no peace which does not restore national liberty , and public right affofd ground for confidence that the Allies will eventually secure the purpose for which they entered the war.

Great Social Changes.

Social and' economic developments have been the result of the determination of the. people to leave nothing undone which contribute to the winning of the war. They are bound to produce lasting and far-reaching -effects on the life ,of. the community.. Not only have enormous ,men l ,"and latterly of women, been mobilised for military and naval purposes, but the' vast majority of the people are now working directly or indirectly on public service.

For the first time the fixing of relatively staple world-prices for food, iron, and the like is within practical politics. The • war—dnd especially the'year 1917 —lias brought about a' transformation of tho social and administrative structure "of the State; much of whidh is ; boiind to be permanent. For the sake of speed there has been perhap's an undue expansion of the functions of central government, but much work has devolved on local authorities and now bodies like the Food Committees. Taking the year .as a whole, the Administration has been brought into far closer contact- witli every aspect of the life of the people, London and the provinces have been linked more closely, and the whole comaiimity. has been oducted in the problems of practical, democracy. Relatione of 'Liilonr and Capital have bepn profoundly altered by controlled prices, limitation of profits, prevention of profiteering, suspension of trade ii,nion- ; regulations, dilution (women's labour),' 'new methods and new labour-saving machinery. The number and lh« skill of workers have greatly risen. The nation to-day is i'ar better organised, far mora productive. 'Hie effect after the war is bound to be enormous, but linless relations between master and man improve rapidly, progress will bo almost impossible. With the setting up of the Ministry of Labour and the adoption of industrial councils proposed by the Whitley Committee, there is now, despite a recent increase in industrial unrest, probably a better ■umk'rstaji.liiig by Capital and - Labour of their "mutual - problems than-,ever before. After long years of neglect, agriculture has been .restored la its proper position.

A Better Worlci. It is becoming mora and more.apparent that reconstruction is not so much a question of'rebuilding society'as it was before the war, but of-moulding a better world out of the social ;,nd economic conditions whiih have arisen during the war. Looked at as a whoie, 1017 has been n remarkable year. The war has assumed moro and. more Iho character of-a (Struggle by all the free nations for tlie destruction of Militarism 'aiui the estab : lishment of an international order that will give'ieal securities for liberty and public right throughoit; Iho world. The nations of the British Empire l.ave been drawn together in joint effort for the common causo. AVithin the United Kingdom there lias been*a growth in the aenso gf public servieo aml of tlie power to improve and adapt our methods that •will make it far easier tu build up a happier and more equitably organised society in future. This record sliows that the British peop>es have good reason for con- ' lidenee that Iho spirit in which they have 'set themselves to deal with the problems of the past three years will enable them to master successfully the .-till greater problems which lie ahead.