Great Britain

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 29, 9 May 1916, Page 5

Great Britain

THE SERVICE BILL. AN EFFECTIVE MEASURE. i'NITKD PItESP AfWOk-iTION. I London, May 7. Hie full text of the Compulsion Bill ..mtams fourteen clauses and is entited the Military Service Act, 1916. Kligibles are denned as every male British subject who has attained the age of 18 years and has not attained die age of 41 years, who, at any time since August 14, 1915, has been, or for the time being is, ordinarily a resident of Great Britain. The time itated is for the period of the war. No penalties are mentioned except for those refusing to produce exemption certificates when authoritatively asked for, but Section 6 says that during the continuance of the war Section 17 of the Reserve Forces Act, 1882, ivhich relates to offences of deserters ind absentees, shall have effect. Clause 9 provides for the carrying on if civil work by empowering the Army Council to transfer men to reserves in the general interest of the country.

THE APPEAL FOR ECONOMY. \ London, May 8. The Board of Trade returns show hat the economy appeals have fallen an deaf ears. The average increase of food prices since the outbreak of the .var has been 49 per cent., and is steadily rising, while the purchasing oower of a sovereign only equals lis 2d. THE COAL OUTPUT. London, May 8. The Government has requested miners to confer on May 16 as to how to increase the coal output, in view of the Allies' demands. The output decreased 29 million ton s during the first seventeen months of the war, the cause being due to enlistments. The coal output would be increased if the eight hours' day is annulled. THE DAILY NEWS AND LLOYD > y\ GEORGE. J ■ '-; London, May 8. Mr A. G. (editor of London Daily News) in a further open letter to Mr Lloyd George, says: "It i.v much easier to say 'assassin' and speak of poison gas than to meet accusations which you know to be true, and to which.you have no answer. Yours is a swift but shallow mind, and it has made you contemptuous of more stable and trustworthy minds. Self-hypnotised, you are persuaded that you, and you alone, can save the nation. My charge was not that yon had disagreed with Mr Asquith, but that you had agreements with Mr 'Asquith's declared enemies.'

PRIVATE EXPORT OF INDIAN WHEAT. (Received 10.25 a.m.) f London, May 8. Mr C. H. Roberts (Labor member for Lincoln), in the House of. Commons, said the Government of India was permitting the private export of wheat under certain restrictions con* cerning the quantities and destinations. irish prisoners-of-war. now Turned down by Germany. (Received 11.45 a.m.) London, May 8. In the House of Commons, Mr Tennant, in reply to a question, said Germany was no longer differentiating in favour of Irish prisoners-of-war.