Great Britain

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 2, 3 May 1915, Page 5

Great Britain

THE DRINK PROBLEM. “THE HORIZON OF COURAGE.” i THE VEIL OF COWARDICE. j Times and Sydney- Sun Service. | London, May 1. ' In his speech on the Drink Bill, Mr Lloyd George declared that the Allies possess a great .supply of the finest quality of men and sufficient reserves to overwhelm any enemy. The problem of victory on land and sea was largely a question of material. When the time comes to drive out the eneJmy from Flanders and France, the I expenditure of munitions must he on I a scale unprecedented in any war of (history. He continued —“We are (straining every nerve to increase production of munitions without which the armies with all their gallantry, cannot hope to complete victory. ;Everybody at first agreed drink was the evil until faced with remedies. .Then they alleged.it was exaggerated, and declared that drinking was no worse in peace time. This is not j peace time. We can afford slackness then, hut not now. Let us lok at |the facts in the face. True optimism is the horizon of courage, and false optimism is the veil of cowardice.” The Chancellor added that the consumption of wine had fallen 25 per cent, since the war., The additional spirit duty of 3s 9d lias reduced consumption to 30 per cent. If tiie additional lls 9d had the same effect, they would have achieved their purpose. SOCIALISTS AND PEACE. Times and Sydney Sun Service. (Received 8.0 a.m.) Loudon, May 2. Swiss Socialists have invited Socialists all over the world to discuss peace. BRITISH PRISONERS VISITED. Times and Sydney Sun Service. (Received 8.0 a.m.) London, May 2. Mr Luries, American Ambassador, visited the British prisoners who are suffering reprisals in Germany, and expressed satisfaction. , LOVE FOR THE UNIFORM. Times and Sydney Sun Service. (Received 8.0 a.m.) London, May 2. Fifty persons, mostly women, replied to The Times’ advertisements inserted by an officer requiring skin to graft his wound. THE TRADE ALARMED. Times and Sydney Sun Service. (Received 8 a.m.) London, May 2. The liquor trade is anxiously considering the Drink Bill. Generally there is no quarrel with the scope of the powers which the Government is taking, and they are prepared to submit if it will provide for a situation as serious as Mr Lloyd George describes. The hotels and clubs have laid in immense stocks, particularly of whisky, the retail price of which is expected to be immediately doubled. The wine trade is anxiously organising in the hope of an amendment in the stringency of the taxes, which, they declare, will prove the deathblow to the Trade. BRITAIN’S COAL NEEDS. Times and Sydney Sun Service. (Received 8 a.rn.) London, May 2. The Government is appointing a committee to control the export,of coal with a view to the conservation of Britain’s needs. PRESS CENSORSHIPS. Times and Sydney Sun Service, (Received 8 a.m.) London, May 2. The Hon. R. McKenna (Home Secretary), being interrogated, said General Sir John French did not express disapproval of the Government’s policy in enforcing secrecy on press censorships.