Great Britain

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 50, 2 March 1915, Page 5

Great Britain

ASQUITH ON EXPE^n'^URE

BRITISH ARMY AND NAVY.

STATESMANLIKE SPEECH IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.

L'xrrti) Press Association London, March 1

The Premier (Mr Asquith), moving the votes of credit as cabled on 1* riday, said that out of the sum of 302 millions, 275 millions went to the Army. Thirty-eight millions represented advances for war expenditure to the self-governing Dominions. Our average daily expenditure in the Army was a million and a-half. It was advisable to make provision for all expenditure up to the second week in July. The expenditure in the Navy was four hundred thousand daily.

• r iiio Government was satisned with the recruiting, whilst the Territorials were now capable of, confronting any troops in the world. The whole of the Dominions, and India’s splendid contributions of men would soon he in the lighting line. Ho did not think Neutrals would sit quiet, as though they were still under the protection of the rules of civilised warfare; they had to face Germany’s organised policy of piracy and pillage. It was grotesque and peurile to call it a blockade, i (Received 1.10 p.m.)

Continuing, Mr Asquith said the blockade consisted in encircling the belligerent by an unpenetrable ring of warships. Where, he asked, are the German ships? If my memory serves me, they have only twice during the seven months been upon the open sea, their object being murder and the wholesale destruction of property in undefended towns. The German grand fleet had not blockaded, cannot blockade, and never will blockade our coast. The Allies, in detaining vessels hound for Germany, did not intend to confiscate vessels or cargoes unless they were otherwise liable to confiscation.

THE NAVIES’ GREAT WORK

ALONE THEY’RE DOING IT.

(Received 8 a.m.) Times and Sydney Sun Service, London, March 1.

The Times’ naval correspondent says it is obvious that the Dardanelles oxier. ations will be carried out to a successful termination. With a long-range bombardment, favored with clear weather, it is possible the opposition will be beaten down without the co-oper-ation of the land force until a later stage. - -

MR ASQUITH’S REPLY TO CARP-

ING CRITICISM.

(Received 10.35 a.m.) London, March 1

The Premier (Mr Asquith), in reply to Mr Pennefather, said the British, French and Russian official publications could leave no doubt in impartial minds that the responsibility of the war did not rest with Britain.

BATTLES IN WORKSHOPS.

BRITISH CHANCELLOR APPEALS TO BRITONS.

WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS. United Press Association. London, March 1. Mr Lloyd George had a great reception when he spoke at Bangor. He said he questioned whether the people of Britain realised the necessity for tiro war. “Belgium, once comfortably well off, is now a waste. The German army, like a wild boast, has fastened its claws deep on the beautiful land of France, and our vigilant naval watchdog alone prevents the beast from leaping on our shores.

“We are conducting the war as if there were no war. There is a danger that Britain, by her neglect, sloth, and heedlessness, will prolong the country’s agony and endanger the completeness of her triumph. Employers, workers, and the general public must act together, or we will delay the Imperial victory. “The spirit in which Germany is making potato bread is not laughable, hut is to be dreaded more than General Hindenberg’s strategy. It is the spirit in which a country should meet a great emergency. The average Briton must be equally willing to surrender his comforts, and even his necessities of life. Employers and workers on the Clyde have been spending a fortnight in disputing, hut we cannot afford this leisurely method. There is much to be said for and against compulsory arbitration, hut during the war the Government ought to have power to settle disputes. If the workmen ought to get more, let the Government find it out and give it to them. If not, the men must not throw down their tools. The country cannot afford it. Regulations restricting output ought to be suspended in war time. When battles are being fought the workshops of Britain and Franco are equally battlefields. I am sorry to say that some workers are shirking their duty in this emergency. But a small minority can throw works out of gear. Russia, knowing her deficiencies, had pulled herself together, and stopped drink. France had abolished absinthe. The British Government did not propose to do anything drastic, but bad great powers and meant to use them discreetly and fearlessly. “We are at war,” be continued. “It

is the greatest war ever fought by this or anv other country. The future of

the human rate lor generations depend, on the result. II Germany is niumphant, she will, be the dictator it' the international, policy of the world, r’rance is • now fighting to 1 shake oil die nightmare which followed 1870, .chen she cowered in terror before this monster. Germany made this quarrel with the same cool calculation with which she makes a new gun. 11 she

,s victorious we will not be vassals ot .lie Germans of the noblest songs, sciences, and philosophies, but of the Germany which speaks through the . ancons voice of Krupp’s artillery'and seeks to quench every spark of freedom in rivers of blood.

both sides of the question.

(Received 8.45 a.m.) London, March 1. The Clyde engineers complain that the masters delayed replying to the demand for an extra twopence per hour, and finally the employers offered three farthings. The men then found that one large firm had import'd American workers, who received a bonus of six shillings weekly, and a strike resulted. They say that the Government preferred to coerce the workers instead of the employers. . The masters point out that the union leaders asserted the introduction if three thousand Americans, as all the British were fully employed, and uore shells' were essential. They alIge that the Americans ran the machines up to the full limit until the other workers warned them to go slower. The employers now ask for the abolition of the restrictions on output, vnd the adopting of the bonus system. The men’s earnings woidd then rise even above the extra twenty-three per cent.'demanded. The Government wove satisfied the majority of the Clyde engineers had been working full hours.

Sheffield engineers employed on war contracts refused the masters’ of. fer of two shillings, being an increase of five per cent, on piece work, and they demand double. Some of the allied trades demand five shilb'ngs.

THE DURATION OF THE WAR. Times and Sydney Sun Service. London, March 1. The Press Bureau reports:—“A British officer with the French troops writes; ‘The waf will last until either the German armies are beaten or the nation is starved. Germany is short of wheat, but has taken drastic measures to prevent the supply entirely failing before next harvest. Germany can reckon on being able to continue the war until the midde of 1916.’ Another writer declares that, to ensure the defeat of the Germans while the nation is still hungry, France requires from Britain more reserves and more explosives. The French people are impressed and astonished when told >that r a-' million more, men had been recruited in England on the voluntary basis'. 1 When informed that putting the men in the field was delayed by the difficulty of producing rifles, explosives, and other necessaries, thej were incredulous. Their belief in Britain’s manufacturing power is unbounded, and they opine that if a million men are ready to give their lives, the remaining millions should be prepared to give their labor for a mere pittance, if needed, to attain the desired end.

RAMSAY MACDONALD’S PAMPHLET.

London, February 26

The “Daily Telegraph” states that Mr Pennefather, in the House of Commons, will draw the attention of the Government to a pamphlet circulated in Germany entitled “Facts about Germany and the War. Ihe responsibility of Sir Edward Grey, by Ramsay MacDonald, in which it is asserted “The war is a diplamatist s war made by half a dozen men. Evil has happened, because Sir Edward Grey guided the foreign policy. His shortsightedness and blunders have brought this upon us.”

WAR OFFICE APPOINTMENTS HOTLY CRITICISED. United Press Association. Loudon, February 2G. In the House of Commons the Government’s appointment of Montague Meyer as sole timber buyer for the War Office was hotly criticised. Meyer receives 2.) per cent, on the value of his purchases, and his commissions already amount to £15,000. Members stated that other timber firms had offered to undertake the purchases at a lesser remuneration. Several denounced the appointment as a. terrible scandal. 1 Mr A. C. T. Beck (Parliamentary Secretary to the War Office), in reply, declared that the country was saving money by employing Meyer. The matter then dropped.

PICKLES, THE AUSTRALIAN AVIATOR, IN THE OSTEND RAID.

(Received 10.35 a.in.) London, March 1. Pickles, the Australian aviator, participated in the Ostend air raid.

MISCELLANEOUS. London, February 28. The King has returned to London after visiting the Grand Fleet. Loudon, March 1. The Board of Trade has issued' a warning, forbidding persons in the overseas Dominions to carry merchandise destined or coming from the enemy’s country. It is incumbent on ship-owners to take precautions, as there is reason to fear that there have been cases of business laxity and lack 'of proper inquiry.