Great Britain

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 28, 8 May 1916, Page 5

Great Britain

the: loyalty or ik'dsa. FJELD FOR GERMAN iNTRICUE. DENIALS OF UNREST. Hnttwc I'hrbx t»«oajATroN (Received 8.15 a.m.) New York, May 7. Mr Chamberlain, in a statement to the American Press, says the Germans are making; every endeavor to create trouble in India, but in a population of 320.000,000 million there are only a few malcontents, and it is a complete failure. Concerning the fantastic conspiracy in February 1915, evidence was given q c the stability of British rule. The Viceroy reports that the situation could hardly be more favorable. Twenty-one regiments of Indian cavalry and eighty-six battalions of infantry are fighting abroad. THE CRIME OF ESPIONAGE. SHEFFIELD IRON MERCHANT SENTENCED TO IMPRISONMENT. (Received 8.15 a.m.) London, May 7. Albert Bright, iron merchant, Sheffield, was sentenced to penal servitude for life. He pleaded guilty to collecting information, from an employee of Vickers regarding war material which, was useful to the enemy.

THE SERVICE BILL. FRENCHMEN DELIGHTED. CROUP SYSTEM RE-OPENED. ,|. ■ ft 2 i-a r ■■ ' >• fl i } Ivondon,iMay 5. The Times' correspondent in Paris says that France is delighted at the introduction of compulsion in England, French statesmen realising that it makes easier their 'determination to see things through. The numbers of the British army came as a great surprise to the general public. The War Office announces that the group system has been re-opened for unattested' married men and single men who are exempted under the new Act and they can join their respective groups. A new group, called Group A has. been, formed for those born in 1898* and 5 is 3 op"e : m'nfr%rt Sattrth&t! ,

THE J-E^C yE. j REMARKAIM-X' UNITED CABINET. NO AS PEACE! | . •• London, May 5. Lord Curzon, addressing the Primrose .said that lie wished to dispel'' thl illusion Sliat 'the Government had spent time in modifying or rejecting the War Committee's decisions. The latter had an absolutely free hand, and in ninety-nine cases out of a "Imndred its decision was hot even debated. Another illusion was that the Government ignored the ad-, vice of their military, ani naval ad-; visers. The Government fully recognised that the strategy condticf pf the campaign must w> ]ss Co Me JDhier, of the General Staff. A third illusion, : \ya,s, Government considered indispensable. . .Neither, collectively npr individually vvw« they guilty of -that mistake, and aU were ready to retire if Parliament's conlidence was withdrawn.

Lord Curzon continued: "The greatest contribution that Britain is making is not merely the number of men in the field, the munitions, # or the ships sailing on the seas j but the unimpaired solidarity and stubborn tenacity of the nation as a whole. That inspired the confidence of the Allies and struck terror into the enemy." The rebellion in Ireland was one of the enemy's many attempts to diminish the Military -strength of England ; but the revolt was a mad and squalid one, and retribution would he swift and stern. He would not say that the Government was the only ,ne capable of retaining the unity ot the nation, but it represented all parties in the State, and was therefore more likely to retain unity than any other that could be formed fbr the time being. <■■ Whether the war would be long or short, the Government of the country would go on to the end. He had heard many things discussed in Parliament, but never the subjcet of peace. That word was expunged from the British vocabulary until victory was won. (Applause.)

LLOYD GEORGE'S SPEECH. DIGNIFIED REPLY TO CRITICISM MEED FOR NATIONAL UNITY. London, May 6. Mr Lloyd George, speaking at Conway, said that the task on hand was ! not one for one or two parties, but for the whole nation. It was necessary to preserve absolute national unity until there was a national triumph. Tho sole condition of victory was unity. In ! a month's time he would give an account of his stewardship after . a 'year's munition work. In the time he could say that the output of munitions, and also the capacity to furnish further supplies*, had enormously increased. ' The nation's achievement of raising huge voluntary armies was something whereof they might well ho proud; it was almost unparalleled in history. The numbers had diminished at the end of the summer, when it became clear that the Government must report to oilier methods. There was no indignity in compulsion, which simply

meant that the nation organised itself lor war in an orderly, consistent and resolute fashion.

"We could not." lie said, "run the war like a Sunday school treat; we could not make the same contribution in men, in proportion to population, as France is doing, because we are supplying France and our other Allies with steel, coal, and explosive maferial ; but there is si ill a considerable'margin of men. if the need to

arouse the increasing of our armies is wanted, women are coming forward in larger numbers to rescue the men. Nearly three hundred thousand women are engaged in munition works. I believed, and still believe, that the necessity for compulsion arose in September. I admire Lord Derby's colossal efforts, but the Derby scheme was not voluntary, and it possessed many of the disadvantages of compulsion and voluntarism without the advantages of either." I IN DEFENCE OF HIMSELF. ! Mr Lloyd George denounced the . l»ase, treacherous, and personal intri'gues of those who alleged that he was capable of advancing his own ends, when he was bent on winning I the war. He was glad that his clandestine and surreptitious assailants had now been forced into the open, and had been subjected to a cloudy discharge of poison gas. "If any man believes the testimony of a person who invents private conversations in order to malign a friend, I seek neither his friendship nor his support. I have worked with Mr Asquith for ten years most harmoniously, and I would have ill-required Mr Asquith's great -kindness if I remained an automaton, not expressing my opinions freely 1 and candidly and independently as a counsellor, professing • constant agreement with, my leader, but only betraying him. I viewed this war with hatred, and therefore I wished this to be the last, but it would not be the last unless it were effectively conducted. "Time is not our ally; Time is a doubtful neutral which has not yet been won over to our side. The Allies are united, but their design and co* ordination have left much to be desired. Austro-Germany are pooling all their forces, brains, and efForts. We possess the means, but the Germans/'top pfjten* possessed jthe methods. Let us apply their"- melhods io our means, and victory is certain. "I say, Trust 'the people :•' Tell' 'them what is happening.' There/is nothing ■to conceal; Our people are courageous,,, and; they would respond „wjth enduring steadfastness, devotion; and faith." ! __;,,-,, i7«jf.w Mr Lloyd George received a unanimous vote of confidenqe v , . He also addressed ah immense overflow, mooting.j --y '"'*;'} * "' ?■' *'''■

MUNITION MAKING EXTRAORDINARY. NEED FOR CONFIDENCE IN THE GOVERNMENT, (Received B.Jo a.m.) London, May 7. Mr Lloyd Gecorge, sneaktog at .Conway, said the o| equipped for munition-making for our Navy was almost equal to ber'engaged in France making mtm> tion s for the French '■ A'rmyj. .. j.~'\ "... ; |.. f < Replying to ,sorae. of hi^i;B^t'Liberia} friends, whom his prb£ s'ecutirig 'the war somewhalShocked Mr Lloyd George emphasized the point that a badly-conducted war means a bad peace, which means no peace. In conducting war, a Government should not only be resolute, but should appear to be resolute, and ready to face the horrors of war. If they had confidence in their leaders, the Nations spirit would be a propellant for its armies; therefore, it was important that whatever happens, the people should be confident that the Government was doing its best in the firmest and most resolute manner in the conduct of the war.

MR HUGHES' PROGRAMME. London May 5. Mr Hughes has gone to Wales, and will return on Monday. He has had further conferences on the freight and metal problems. He is'undecided as to the length of lus stay in England." He hopes to respond to the invitations to visit Manchester, Liverpool Leeds. Bristol, Birmingham and York, where he will be given opportunities to address Labor circles and follow up the policy that he will submit to tho Paris Conference, but this will depend on whether he must return to Australia urgently or whether, he can he spared for a longer period. He will attend the. Sugar Producers' Conference on Tuesday. GERMAN VIEW OF MR HUGHES. BOLD AS A CIRCUS ATHLETE. London, May 5. Tho German press does not lose an opportunity to advise Mr Hughes. The Cologne Gazette publishes a part of his Edinburgh speech, headed. "The Strong Man from Australia," saying: "Herr Hughes enjoys a splendid press in England. He is tougher than the English statesmen, who are invited to copy his rough and ready 'strike them dead' manner. There is a great difference whether, like Herr Hughes, one is playing the strong man with no further responsibility or whether one has to provide some sort of harmony [between words and deeds." "Mr Churchill was lacking in deeds, so was Lis: • ■ I off the stage, while Mr Hughes continues bold as a circus athlete to swing hundredweights made of paper. It is a sign of the English intellectual decadence that this Australian is hailed as the ideal statesman.'' I