Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star SATURDAY, JANUARY 26th, 1918. THE WEEK.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 January 1918, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star SATURDAY, JANUARY 26th, 1918. THE WEEK.

Whf.n Mr Lloyd George was being closely questioned this week in regard to war by the representatives of the Trades Unions, and was pressed regarding a general election-, ho made a statement •that in anticipation for the

next contest eight millions votes would he added to the rolls of the United lvingdov. Here was a statement which has more direct- hearing on the future of the Empire than probably the whole aspect of the war. Tin* new Reform Rill at Home in. regard to electoral matters i s possibly revolutionary in . its enactments anti is destined to play a great part in the internal history of the King loin. Tt gives women the vote, there-

by increasing the electoral roll by some millions. It legalises the principle of vote by proxy, and. makes other root and branch changes in the procedure of Parliamentary elections. 'The redistribution sehenie is of itself sufficiently important to claim an Act of Parliament all to itself. Tt rides roughshod over boroughs with historic names, extinguishing not less than 27. In several cashs it more than doubles the representation of commercial centres, to which end it proposes to increase ‘-the already unwieldy number of members to 704. There is material enough in the measure for very exciting debates

yeti, despite the far-rea<ih'ing effects of the hill, its placid procedure through the House is quite a remarkable sign of the times, and shows how public interest :in the war has submerged for the time being, even a lively interest in the matter of such personal magnitude to the people of Great Britain and Ireland. The Prime Minister’s passing reference to the matter will, doubt, awaken more than an ephemeral interest in a' subject of such great possibilities. 1

Thebk is a more promising outlook- as to a settlement of the affairs of Ireland than ever. The'Convention wlib ’ has been sitting at Dublin for months appears now to be closing its deliberations. The British Government is bound, ‘practically, by the decision of the Convention, and if a constitution is drafted by that representative Assembly of Irish interests, the Government will in due course translate the deejsi into law. The resignation of Sir Edward Carson from the Ministry seems to he a prelude to the legal action, and seems to presage that Home Rule for

Ireland will he at last attained. Tt is to be expected, that the coVf will lie drafted on liberal lines so far as internal government is concerned. 'That, in fact, colonial procejljirc will be adapted to the position generally. The one point of national and particular interest will be the treatment of >the noiit-h of Ireland, the political charge of which Sir Edward Carson, lays so much to heart. The Ulster region will stand in the minority in Ireland, and it- has been, n« doubt, the most delicate task of the Conyention

to deal as fairly as possible with the conflicting interests. It is to he inferred that. Sir Edward Carson has some intimate knowledge of the possible recommendations and his resignation would suggest a degree of dissento the position. But times arc changing ’and the three years of war and the prospects ahead must have mellowed the opinions of ardent pro and Con Home Rulers oil the general Situation. This fact gives hope of a full and final satisfactory ending to the vexed national question.

Thrive are still echoes of the Cnmbrni failure of November last—the only occasion for more than a year that the enemy achieved any material success on the West Front, ft. will he recllcd that the cabled extract from the Daily Express regarding the Camhrai offensive suggested that the paper had knowledge of the facts adduced at the inquiry into the manner in which the operations arbund Camhrai were conducted. The paper stated that “the facts wholly contradict the rumours which have lately been growing fantastic.’’’ Apart from the somewhat doubtful comments of Mr Frank Simmonds who stated in the Now York “Tribune”’ about the middle of last month, that General Byng had “neglected his flanks on the Scheldt,” and that “ his attempt unreasonably to enlarge his success was a blunder,” wo have had little definite information regarding these fantastic rumours' to which tho Daily Express refers. The critic mentioned above 'was apparently drawing his own conclusions,' after endeavouring to read between tho lines of the official reports. Whether there was any justification for his definite charge against General Byng or not, thero does not seem to have been the slightest ground for the suggestion which he made at the time that “even 1 Sir Douglas Haig might find his personal position insecure.” While there was undoubtedly a great deal of adverse criticism in England regarding the Camhrai operations, as was s l, by the fact that an inquiry was ordered the facts as reported in the communiques did not at any time indicate that any serious blunders had been perpetrated. During the week the,matter has been revived in the House of Com-» mons by various direct questions, hut the Ministerial Tepli.es have been 1 remarkable by their indirectness and incompleteness, and the public are still very much in the dark. Perhaps this was one of the phases Colonel Repingt,on railed against when announcing the severance of his connection w : U the Tipies. The attack on Sir Douglas Haig makes 4,he occasion the more memorable, and shows the depth of fooling created over the matter.

Taking the Cambrai- operation as a whole, the facts showed, as reviewed by a military critic that the initial success of the British attack exceeded anticipations: a greater area of ground was captured than had been thought possible; the enemy afterwards coun-ter-attacked the now line, and achieved •v certain amount of success, eventually compelling the British to readjust their line. At the present time the British still hold a big portion of the ground captured in the initial attack. Had General B.vng’s offensive on November *2oth last penetrated no \ further than the front at present, occupied by the Rritish on the Cambrai front it- would still have been regarded as a pronounced success, and there would have been no ‘fantastic rumours’ floating around regarding the mistakes of generals. It is true the British lost a number of guns and prisoners as a result of the enemy’s counter-attack, and it is this fact which has no doubt been largely responsible for tlio adverse criticism regarding the Cambrai operations. The British people had witnessed a series of important British successes since the commencement of the Somme offensive, and in practically no case had their troops boon compelled to relinquish their grip on the captured ground. Objectives had. been fixed, and, with one or two minor exceptions when once these were reached they were hold. In the Cambrai offensive there

were no fixed objectives, and film front on which the_troops eventually rested was not adopted as a matter of choice. Weaknesses could hardly he avoided, and when the enemy discovered one of these weak points there was no alternative but to readjust the British line. The result of the inquiry, if made public, will be most interesting, a s there is much that we would like to know regarding the Cambrni offensive, apart from the question of the possible mistakes of officers. But the War Cabinet for reasons not disclosed decided not to make the report, public—a course agreed to by General Smuts—who gave, an independent statement to the War Cabinet on the facts of the case. This latter precaution should give added confidence to the public in regard to the subject at issue.

Peace prospects are still on most people’s minds, and there is the general im pression 4 ’that the war is hurrying' to a close. Still, this thought must not be built on,' for the whole situation rests with Germany .itself. The Allies* war aims have been made plain by President Wilson and Mr. Lloyd George who, it appears now, spoke without any previous collaboration. This makes their individual statements the stronger. Their general terms are endorsed in keeping and material lines with those of the great La-

bour convention, so that, the position is thus trebly emphasised. German action is of course, controlled by the militarists, and agreement with the. Allies’ terms means the abandonment of their world power aims on which the conflict was designed. But within the Central Powers, forces are working which might at any time control even the military side of the German machine responsible for the war. The posi-

tion within Austria shows the working of one side of the internal forces referred to, and during the week the orderly effort made there showed there paralysing influence. Tt is not too much to expect that a similar spirit is spreading within Germany itself, and in that hope lies the real expectation of i a comparatively early ending to the j war. Meanwhile Germany is planning

for a decisive stroke in the west. This is being described already as the last I great battle of the war, indicating that .* the effort is doomed to failure, and that j thereafter the forces referred to will j have freer opportunity to express them- ; ( selves effectively. ]

De. Thacker M.P. is on the war-path,' primarily against th'o Defence Minister, but really against the National Government which he accuses of many shortcomings. If the aggressive Doctor is sanguine of attaining some effect-, ive point of vantage, lie should approach the position more diplomatically. What should be urged and demanded now in advance of the session, is that a general election should come to pass at the close of the next session in Parliament. The Government, was strong enough to extend its life on a former occasion, and it will be so again this session, if the public temper is not disclosed in advance. There wa s some occasion for the National Government to ask for the concessions at the time it did, hut it has made such little use of its-great opportunities since, that it is now high time the country had the opportunity of expressing an opinion on all its works. In tlii s way Dr Thacker would probably attain the goal he aims at by a more satisfactory course. In other Dominions elections have been held and na tional poll s taken, and it has been found convenient to record the soldiers’ votes. This latter achieved, and the' main objection to a general election vanishes. The political situation in the country is now such that the whole position should he reviewed by the country. The National Government has llad a full and fair run, and it is for those most directly concerned to decide how far tlie greatest of opportunities has been used for national opportunities.