Great Britain

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 6, 7 May 1915, Page 5

Great Britain

POUND DAY FOR BELGIAN SOLDIERS. UNITHD FhMM AtBOCIATIOJf. (Received 8.55 a.m.) London, May 6. Boronghs throughout the United Kingdom are holding a pound-day for collecting food and fruit for the Belgian soldiers 'in the trendies and hospitals.

i THE BRITISH BUDGET. Times and Sydney Sun Service. | London, May 5. Mr Lloyd George, in his Budget speech, estimated increases in the beer duty of £16,000,000, in the wine duty £3,346,000, and in the tea duty £372.000. The income tax alteration merely fulfils the pledge to correct the anomaly among insurance companies who avoid evasion of payment. He estimated that property, income tax and super taxes would' produce £103,000,000. Referring to the financing of the gi'gantic war cost, he said the ordinary margin of imports over exports was £130.000,000 this year, and would be £448,000,000. Great Britain had practically to finance the purchases of most of the Allies abroad. We were all acting together, and it means that, instead of financing the difference be-

tween £130.000,000 and £145.000,000. we must finance the difference of £800,000,000. Every section of the House must accept the responsibility with the Government in the war. The last thing on which it was desired to J embark on a bitter controversy was the drink question, which fell on every fibre, it. being a serious task. He was not pessimistic, but he never indulged in foolish hopes. Great Britain entered on the war spirit with chivalry, and if it fails the prospect of remaking Europe was sad indeed. He was not wedded to any proposals, only ho would appeal for permission to copo with the difficulty caused by liquor in munitions' areas. He denied that he made an attack on workers, for he had said from the beginning that the vast majority were giving every ounce of their strength.

GERMAN REPRISALS.

London, May 6

Lord Robert Cecil, in the House of Commons, quoted letters from officers bitterly complaining of their treatment in Germany under the reprisals ordered by the Government and the Kaiser. The writers were encouraged by German officers to relate their experiences. Lord Cecil hoped Mr. Asquith would persist in his intention to exact reparation at the end of the war. however high placed were the criminals.

j Mr. Asquith reiterated his previous pledge. Mr. Bonar Law, referring to the German methods of warfare, hoped we would disregard any convention preventing us from effectively dealing with our enemies, who were showing no respect for convention of any kind. We might without loss of national dignity reverse the policy of the submarines. If everything failed to bring redress we might confiscate all German property within the Empire.

MISCELLANEOUS. London, May 5. King Gustav of Sweden, speaking afc' Gothenburg, said the danger of Sweden being involved in the. war was not lessened, but he was confident of the unanimity of his. subjects in the even'» of the necessity for defensive measures. The speech was greeted by an enthusiastic demonstration. The Bishop of London addressed the London Diocesan Conference. Referring to German atrocities, he asked: "Shall infamy remain unavenged?" Never while God is in heaven and there is a nation brave enough to do His will. He did not shirk the question whether vengeance was left to God. The course of history showed that the Lord repaid vengeance practically always through man. If drink was a greater danger than submarines, and illegitimacy greatly increased, then a greater blow had struck the national prestige than the loss of trenches,' It was stated two hundred were killed and wounded every day. even when no battle was in progress, chiefly through the lack of ammunition to keep down the enemy's lire. Lives were sacrificed through slackness here. He urged every patriot to work for the State. [n the House of Lords, Lord Crewe, replying to a question concerning the censorship, said there were 120 cable and wireless stations outside Great Britain, and if censoring was not carried out there would be much interference and commercial activities would lie reduced to the minimum. But the greatest care was necessary to prevent news reaching the enemy. Fifty thousand telegrams were censored daily in Great Britain by ISO censors, and there were four hundred in other parts of the Empire. They were responsible persons of undoubted integrity. London, May 5. From May 13th the export of coal and coke, except to British possessions and to the countries of the Allies will be prohibited. Mr Lloyd George informed a brewers' deputation that it was necessary to lower the standard of alcohol in beer. The Daily Telegraph says that Mr Asquith has decided that each coal district will arrange to pay a'miners' bonus within a week. The amount is not stated.