Great Britain

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 47, 31 January 1916, Page 5

Great Britain

| NEVER HIVE IN." ' MR LLOYD DEORESE ON MUNITIONS. THE ALLIED ARMIES. [V'nited Prkhs Association. I Milan January '-';'■ t ■ II Secolo had an interview with Mr Lloyd George, in the course of which he said: "J am satisfied with what we are doing. We have 2500 factories, employing a million and a half men and a quarter of a million women. They are satisfying not only the requirements of our own army, but also our Allies, particularly Russia. French journalists have inspected our factories, and Russians and Italians will inspect them shortly. I am perfectly confident of victory, because the Allies are at last taking counsel together. France, Russia and Italy have re-or-ganisecl their armies, and we had to create a new one. We have three million men under arms, and by the spring will have a million more." Asked about the possibility of a military deadlock. Mr Llovd George said that that would be at an end. Victory must be real. The final pressure on the enemy was becoming greater; they were spreading their frontiers temporarily, but they were weakening in military power, and hence the process of strangulation wa s slow but sure. The Central Empires had lost the opportunity of victory, and they knew it. "It is a grim struggle, but the enemy is on the down grade. We may make mistakes, but we will never give in." MEAT FOR FRANCE. AMERICAN IN FAVOR OF AUSTRALASIAN DROPPED. e London, January 29. Sir Thomas Mackenzie, explaining his speech at his reception last Wednesday, said that Sir Thomas Robinson and himself had learned that a contract was proposed between the French Government and American meat .firms for 120,000 tons of frozen meat annually, at war prices, operating until 1920 or three months after the conclusion of peace, from the River Plate. The meat was to be carried exclusively in French bottoms, and admitted duty free, an advantage of twopence per pound. Within two hours of being informed the British Government decided to act, and the negotiations, during the course of which Sir T. Robinson visited France, resulted in the project being dropped, although the Bill was before the Senate. Our -protest was based on the fact that the unfair concession to neutrals which was denied the British dominions, who were capable of supplying meat on equal terms, would seriously affect the Australasian meat trade, and we arrived at a satisfactory arrangement with France for obtaining meat from British and other sources on equal terms. The Agents-General at a meeting decided definitely to inquire regarding the British Government's freight intentions. It is believed that Australian produce can come normally if Britain has not cancelled the arrangements for ships. MR FISHER ON AUSTRALIA'S PART IN THE WAR. London, January 29. The Australian Press Association had an interview at Paris with Mr Fisher, who said: "The work of our men at Gallipoli was nothing more than we expected. The Australians look upon the war as being as much their war as Britain's. There are perhaps 50,000 German-born citizens in Australia who are quite good Australians. Many of them left their birthplace because they could not tolerate it s political conditions. At important points an ally is usually consulted, but meanwhile we are with England to the end, in men, money, heart, and arms." Asked about the economic effects of the war in Australia, Mr Fisher said that so far they were not serious. After the war he did not doubt that there would be a flow of people to the distant dominions. He was sure that Australia and New Zealand would receive immigrants with open arms and give them every possible opportunity. j The Australians, he said, did not 'wish to criticise the acts of those responsible for carrying on the war. Some day they may have something to say, but the time is not yet. Mr Fisher emphasised the importance of a cheap cable service, which would be of incalculable benefit to Britain and the Dominions.

BRITAIN'S STUPOR.

I ADMIRAL BEATTY'S OPINION. j London January 23. Admiral Bentty, in a letter to the Society for the promotion of Christian Knowledge says:— "Surely God docs not intend this war to be a blood-drunken orgy; there must bo a purpose in it, and an improvement must be outcome. France has already shown the way with a wonderful revival of religion, and similarly has Russia, but England yet remains to come out of the stupor of self-satisfaction and complacency wherein her flourishing condition has steeped her. Until she is stirred out of this condition and a religious revival occurs, just so long will the war continue. When she looks to the future with humbler eyes, and a prayer on her lips, we can begin to count the days towards the end." i RETURNING SOLDIERS. London, January 29. Sir Thomas Mackenzie farewclled 130 incapacitated soldiers, who have left on their return to New Zealand. I MOTHERLAND AND DOMINIONS. ,! London, January 28. The Times states that the Colonial ; Office deserves full credit for inviting 'Mr-Hughes, Mr Massey and Sir Joseph Ward, whose presence should be used to the uttermost. They must be consulted regarding the terms of peace. The Derby groups ten to thirteen covering single men from 27 to 31. will be called up shortly. '."•a Daily Chronicle expects the Government to legislate restricting the size of newspapers and the use of paper for posters and trade catalogues, otherwise British exports of manufacturers will be reduced and imports increased both of which are undesirable. BONAR LAW'S BOOK. London, January 28. Mr Bonar Law, in the preface to a volume on the Canadian fighting, writes: "The Australians and New Zealanders at the Dardanelles .showed .in courage, resourcefulness and tenacity that better troops never'existed, iTo the men of every race Gallipoli will if or ever be sacred ground because of ithe brave men there. In glory will they sleep in endless sancity. The Empire will never be the same again. The pressure of our enemies is welding it into a united nation." BRITISH CASUALTIES KILLED 128,318. WOUNDED 350,283. MISSING 68,046. London, January 28. Mr Asquith, in a written answer to a question, said that up to January 9, 5318 officers and 82,130 men had been killed, 10,217 officers and 245,990 iraen, wounded. 1691 officers and 52,344 ■ men missing, in France. | At the Dardanelles 1745 officers and ,26,455 men had been killed, 3143 officers and 74,952 men wounded, and 353 officers and 10,901 men were missing. In other theatres of war 918 officers and 11,752 men had been killed, 816 [officers and 15,165 men wounded, and ,101 officers and 2656 men were missi tog.

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS

(Received 8.20 a.m.) London t January 30. Abe Bailey is equipping and transporting to Europe one hundred South African sharp-shooters. Mr Runciman presided over sixteen 'important trade conferences in a week 'deciding the details. It is expected that a proclamation regarding paper, building material, and wood will lie issued in a few days, and fruit and tobacco within a fortnight. • The Daily Mail states that all fruit is prohibited except bananas, and consumption is restricted to home-grown fruit. i The Board of Trade is determined (that merchants with accumulated stocks shall not be allowed to make a extortionate profit. i Edward Holden, of the City and Midland Bank, gives a remarkable Analysis of the financial situation. /London, he says, is still the borrowing and gold centre of the world. The Ipound sterling has never had to carry 'such a load as at present; naturally, it has declined in value in accordance 'with the law of supply and demand, but while the exchange value in New .York depreciated 1.9 per cent.. in Holland 10.3, in Spain g and in Scandinavia 3.9, it enormously appreciated elsewhere. The pound was above par in Paris by 10.8, slid in Italy by 25.4. The 69.7 decline in Holland was due to our having exported there during the year jonly seventeen and a-half millions, while we imported twenty-eight and ahalf. We could readjust this by sending gold to Holland, but it might find its way to Germany. The Bank of England has fifty millions of gold and the Government twenty-eight and ahalf millions. The joint stocks' banks have also large sums, while there is a continuous How from South America. !

TRADE AND COMMERCE.

EMPIRE RECIPROCITY URGED. (Received 5.40 a.m.) London, January 30. The Glasgow Chamber of Commerce has urged on the Government to establish a Department of Commerce and Industry under a Minister of Cabinet rank, to consult the Dominions with a view to reciprocal trading laws dealing with enemy firms. It also suggested reciprocal tariffs for the Empire and the Allies.