Great Britain

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 48, 27 February 1915, Page 5

Great Britain

ADMIRAL DISCRETION.

United Press Association.

London, February 25

Lord Selbourne added that secrecy over the naval disasters was bad for the national temperament. Lord Emmott said that no law necessitated a court-martial. The motion would take away the Admiralty’s discretion, which ought not to be interfered with. The present Admiralty’s action during the war was without prejudice to any subsequent actions. The attendance of officers at a court-martial would seriously interfere with the Navy’s work. Lord Lansdowne believed that Ml Churchill’s apprehension that officers might- play for safety was a misconception. Court-martials could be held in secret to prevent any leakage of information to the enemy. The debate was adjourned.

“THE GOLDEN CALF.”

FINANCIAL RESOURCES OF THE ALLIES INCONCEIVABLE.

READY FOR ANY EMERGENCY.

Times and Sydney Sun Service London, February 26.

Speaking upon a motion in the House of Commons, ■ approving the Chancellor’s Triple agreement in conicction with, the Allied finance, Mr Chamberlain said the financial resources of the Allies were beyoud the •aparity of the mind to conceive, but Jiey could not make full use thereof unless they organised. The Germans’ greatest strength lay in the extent of their resources long organised for inch a contingency.

Mr Lloyd George remarked, “You hould give us the compliment of bong perfectly prepared to use our rold. There is too much disposition so worship the Golden Calf. Here you have 150, 160, or 180 millions of gold. There it remains as an idol, not fog currency, but purely, to be worshipped, giving that sort of strength which comes of implicit beief in your idol. I do not desire to prophesy too much, hut I don’t mind saying, that the reserves of gold at our command will carry us through xny emergency that we can possibly “oresee. That is my firm conviction, supported by careful enquiries in the city.”

PROHIBITION OF KISSING.

SPOTTED FEVER IN ESSEX.

Times and Sydney Sun Service. (Received 8.0 a.m.) London, February 26. The local Government Board, in dew of the cases of spotted fever in Essex, warns the people against dssing, and points out that, contrary to the old belief that it is not infectious, it is now believed to be largely transmitted by kissing.

VEILED CONSCRIPTION.

J.P. WANTS MEN DISCHARGED FOR NOT ENLISTING. (London Daily Chronicle, January 1.) At a meeting of the Braintree Rural District Council on Wednesday, the surveyor (Mr C. Y. Bright) reported that he had received a letter from Mr A. W. Ruggles-Brise, J.P., C.C., representing Finchingfield, asking him to discharge two young roadmen in the village because they would not join any branch of His, Majesty'S forces.' The letter was as follows;

Spains Hall, Finchingfield, Dec, 11th, 1914

Dear Sir,—The two roadmen at Cornish Hall End. Notwithstanding local pressure put on these lads, I understand that you are still employing them as servants of the public, when they most certainly ought (to have enlisted, I made a protest to you some fortnight since, and I shall be glad to hear from you that you have ceased to employ these men this week.—Your faith, fully,

A. W. RIIGGLES-BEISE,

The Clerk of the Rural Council replied that possibly members of the Council would find fault if the Surveyor were to discharge the men. The Chairman (Aid. Joseph Smith, J.P.), sarongly protested against any such action. The,Council had no right to interfere with its work-people’s private views. Twenty-eight men enlisted from Finchingfield last week, and there would soon be none left to farm the land. '

Mr B. S. Wood: It is a very improper letter for a member of this Council to write. It is not an Englislinufit’s letter, and there is no freedom about it.

The Surveyor added that the roadmen told him that Mr Ruggles-Brise had been badgering them for , some weeks to enlist. One of the men had actually signed a recruiting form, and expected to be called up, but he did not let Mr Ruggles-Brise know that fact.

The Council unanimously adopted a resoluO that as a public body they were not prepared to put pressure on their employees to enlist in the Army. Mr Ruggles-Brise is squire of Fincliingfield, where he owns most of the laud, and is president of the Conservative Association for the Maldon Division of Essex,