Great Britain

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 71, 23 July 1915, Page 5

Great Britain

THE DOMINIONS’ PART.

MR DONAR LAW'S TRIBUTE, I nitkd J’rkhs Association, London, July 22. Continuing, Mr Law' said : Wlion the war began our coinnieree was much interfered with by German cruisers - , assisted by wireless stations in the Pacific and Africa. Therefore it was of tile utmost importance to obtain possession of or destroy the stations. The most powerful one was the German Pacific Islands, and the suggestion was made that Australia and New Zealand should take possession of the islands containing the stations. They agreed. New Zealand undertook to seize Samoa, and within a week the New Zealand expeditionary force was ready.

New Zealand occupied Samoa on the last- day of August. (Cheers). The Pacific which the Commonwealth undertook to deal with Consisted of Germna New Guinea, the Bismarck Archipelago, and the Solomons. The Australian forces were escorted by three Australian battelships, one of which was in at the death of- the' Emdei). (Cheers). The occupation of the Islands did not take plkVe without fighting. but within a few months of the outbreak of war all the islands were in our possession.

I,n Togolaud, the othly. German oversea colony which has paid it. 4; way without being subsidised by Germany, there was an immense wireless station, costing about a quarteiv of- a million pounds, which was in communication with Beilin direct. The German destroyed the station before surrendering.

In the earlier stages of the campaign in the Cameroon® we suffered severe losses and had to retire to the Nigerian border ; but, with the assistanace of the French, progress was kept no and we captured, on June 11. a strong town with considerable prisoners and war material.

In regard to South-west Africa, lie observed that the Germans were consoling themselves that it had,been won by under a Dutch general. The Germans were perfectly welcome to this consolation, ut every citizen in the'British Empire was pleased that it had been won by a self-governing dominion, and that the Prime Minister of that Dominion was the general in command.

He was sorry he was unable to announce a complete victory in East Africa, or even an advance; the position was largely one of “stalemate.”

From every British possession come men to join forces with England. As a nation we can say that neither business nor luxury has sapped the courage of the race, nor made us less able to fight than in the days when fighting was necessary for tihe existence of biie Empire. Our native levies had fought well and gallantly; nowhere had they shown a want of discipline, nor committed, excesses. In one instance, where one of the legs of a mac-hine-gun tripod was s’hot away, two West African privates allowed themselves to he used as legs efficiently until the enemy was driven off. All those who read General lan Hamilton’s despatches must feci that neither in this nor in any other war has greater courage been shown than of the Australasians when landing at Gallipoli. (Cheers).

OTHER SPEAKERS’ VIEWS.

London, July 22

Following Mr Ilonar Law, Mr T. P. O’Connor said he hoped, for the sake of the inhabitants of the captured German colonies, they would never he asked to exchange a beneficent British rule for a German rule; that would be a. poor return for the -valor of our soldiers. 'The Government’s pledge to consult the dominions upon its European policy at the conclusion of the war removed any reproach felt in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and South Africa, which countries were pouring out their - blood and treasure.

Mr Steel-Maitland said it was quite possible that German intrigues were behind the rising in Ceylon, but the situation , was now completely in hand. The situation at Singapore was more serious, and the Government was now inquiring whether there was German complicity. Although interned Germans had escaped they had not participated in the mutiny. IMPERIAL CONFERENCE. London, July 22. The Morning Post, commenting on Mr Bonar Law’s speech, says: The lighting in the outer Empire has been largely done by the sell-governing peoples. When a settlement comes it is right that- they should be consulted. This will best be effected by an Imperial Conference while the war is proceeding. We trust the Governjment will reverse its decision against this. Mr Bonar Law will not be deterred by conventional excuses of per--1 manent officials who want to save (themselves trouble. Since the late Mr .1. Chamberlain left the Colonial Office it had fallen out of touch with colonial sentiment 1 .and played the jusual role of a wet blanket with depressing assiduity. We have not ‘much faith in the grandiose scheme for a Parliament of the whole Empire. but the, dominions and the mother country might discuss the 'foundations of a true union in a way common to a trade union that is de-

signed to keep Germany out of the Hiitish Umpire. Wo also recommend Mr Honar Law’s attention to schemes whereby the dominions will absorb some oC our fighting ,men after the

, t HARD AT IT IN WALES.

(Received noon A London. July 22. Work has been fully resumed in South Wales, there being few absentees. miscellaneous. London. July 22. There is growing opposition in the House of Commons to a seven weeks’ recess as Mr Asquith proposes.

! A Socialist meeting at the Queen’s Hall demanded the prosecution of the war until a final and conclusive peace was achieved. Mr Ren Tillett, Mr Hyndman. and also Messrs Hodge and CL Roberts* M’s P.. spoke. Them were considerable disturbances, and khaki-clad Socialists aided in ejecting the interrupters.

j In the House of Commons. Mr Asquith said that Britain’s air service is equal to that of any Power. Mr Tennant said that aeroplane losses had been made good, and an enormous number more had been supplied. The j\Var Office was highly impressed by the importance of aeroplanes, and had .decided mi a definite policy, which was being carried out as quickly as possible.

| Sir F. Catvley attacked Lord Kitchener, who. he said, ought to make a statement regarding the indictments of the War Office; otherwise the country would hold him blameworthy.

Melbourne. July 22.

In the Federal House Mr Fisher stated that in view of the South Wales strike, and the fact that thousands of miners were idle in the Newcastle district, he had cabled the British Government that] Australia would supply coal if wanted, but had not received a reply.