A BRITISH REVIEW.

Hokitika Guardian, 9 March 1918, Page 2

A BRITISH REVIEW.

BRITISH LOAN BILL. LONDON, March 8. Mr. Bonar Law in moving a credit, of £600,000,000 pointed out that it was the largest single credit. He anticipated an increase in the daily expenditure ; but he required the sum to last to the end of June. The daily average - expenditure, Ist December to 9th February was £6,107,000. The expenditure on Army, Navy and munitions exceeded the Rudget estimate by £644 000 daily. Loans to the Allies and dominions exceeded the Rudget estiJ'mte by £339.000 daily, and raised-' laneous expenditure by £242,000 daily.

PRESS AND POLITICS. LONDON, March 8. In connection with the Imports and I'.xports Bill replying to Air. Chamberlam, Air. Bonar Law announced: The J renuer would make a statement on xonday on the Government’s connecran inth the Press when the-matter could be debated. The Premier would doubtless refer to Admiral Jellicoe. economic CONFERENCE. LONDON, March Bth. , r - Bonai " Daw said lie hoped to aiake a general statement of the Government’s policy regarding the carrvmg out of the resolution-of the Paris Economic Conference after Easter. A SATISFACTORY POSITION.

Received, this day at 8.45 a.m. LONDON March 8. I" the Commons Hon. Bonar Law said the item 38* millions, represented advances to the Dominions. It was not a loan but meant that Dominion troops m Britain were largely supplied bv our arrangements at home.

Ihe increased expenditure was largely due to the extension of Palestine and Mesopotamian operations, and the increased personnel of the army, but the principle cause was the increased quantity and cost of commodities. Our loans to our Allies, on 9th Febstood at 1264 millions and loans to the Dominions at 180 millions. He estimated the National Debt at the end of the financial year would he about 5900 millions.

Surveying the war situation, Hon. Bona i - Law said we have knowledge that the Germans had promised Turkey that they would expel the British from Mesopotamia, but they were forced to abandon their plans. Though the Germans hoped to obtain much food from Russia, the British Government’s information stated that the food produced in Russia- this year would barely supply Russia herself. From every point of view, it was unlikely that Germany would be able to exploit Russia.

"We had probably a slight superiority of men and guns on the western front. We were overwhelmingly superior in the air. Our forces in France had been working to their utmost to strengthen the defences. The results were wonderful, we used more barbed wire jin Janujary and February , than in the whole of.-1917. lie was somewhat sceptical about the German offensive. i A DANGEROUS POSITION. ON SALONIKA FRONT,. t IMPORTANCE OF EXPEDITION (Received This Day at 9.15 a.m.) LONDON March 8. In the Commons, Hon. A Bonar Law said the. general position at Salonika was unsatisfactory, but this was duo to the Russian collapse. We did not expect a year ago to be purely on the defensive. The General Commanding recognised that the position at Salon- - ika mignV become dangerous. The Centrals, with better communications might send forces which it would be difficult and perhaps impossible for us to meet, but ~ Germany’s man power was not inexhaustible. She cannot do everything at once. She would"' pay dearly for every yard of advance. It was not difficult to justify the expedition. If it had not been sent Germany would have controlled the Greek harbours, which were vital for us. If the enemy secured them and used them as submarine bases, it- would be almost impossible to keep up communication with Egypt . The victories in Mesopotamia and Palestine were not only real and a material gain, but were an immense, military accession of strength. Lord Kitchener had estimated that the troops necessary to save Egypt from invasion would be far larger than the total now operating in Mesopotamia and -Palestine.