Great Britain

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 43, 25 May 1916, Page 2

Great Britain

LORD KITCHENER’S VIEWS ON THE MILITARY SERVICE BILL. (UmTKD i’XliiSS AtWOOuIXiON, ) Loudon, May 21. Lord Kitchener, in the House of Lords, said the Bill would enable us to regulate the how of recruits and prevent fluctuation. The General Staffs would he able to rely "itn greater certainty on the necessary drafts, and thus the rank and hie would be encouraged. It would also enable us to use unlit men for general home service and clerical work. London, May 23. Mr Churchill, continuing his speech, declared that the trench men were living continually under' Arc, and the non-trench population did not suffer, and were enjoying good food and often better pay than the fighters. The shave of decorations given -to nonlighters was- so disproportionate as to become a by-word. He urged the raising of an African negro army to be in readiness in 1917. Out of a population of 315,000,000, India had 100,000 men fighting. Mr Churchill said further that there, was grim distinction at the front between the trench and the * non-trench

population, yet the ;part of the army which really counted for ending the war was the killing, lighting ami suffering part. Every’ serviceable man should be put in tt; lengthen and strengthen the lighting line. There were two hundred thousand officers in the army with two hundred thousand servants and fifty thousand grooms, and this was an army itself. It- was possible to form infantry, out of tbe great masses of cavalry, and there might have been twelve new Indian divisions. The Empire’s man power should be used remorselessly. Mr Churchill’s speech deeply interested the House. It is evident he has returned to politics greatly strengthened. He sharply criticised the placing of the armies in the East, especially at Salonika, whore there were only Bulgars who did not want to fight.

The rest of the speeches were not important, and the 1 vote of credit was passed. THE .AIR SERVICE. i ■ f__ Lord Montagu moyed to abolish the divided control of the air fiery ice.,, Lord Northcliffe, in his maiden speech, said it was-certain >aoi<iAia Control poard must develop from the ■Air Ministry. Unless the;pilots now trained increased in numbers we would he hopelessly short in 1917. i( . The 1 debate was adjourned. ’ .... . t i DYESTUFFS FROM AMERICA. (deceived 12.25 p.m.) London, May 24. Questioned in the House of Commons, Lord Robert,Cecil denied that Britain had consented to the safe passage of 15,000 tons of German dye stuffs to America. Tie added that the Government had consented to. pass two cargoes last year, but nothing resulted. America had since made a lurther pro, postal, to which the Government had not yet replied, ■ ; LAND FOR SETTLEMENT. J (Received 12.25 p.m.) London ; May 25. Mr Asquith announced that Lord Selbourne would introduce in tiro House of Lords to-morrow a Bill providing land for settlement for soldiers and sailors.

GERMAN TREATMENT OF PRISONERS. (Received 12.25 p.m.) London, May 24. Mr Tennant said the evidence of returned prisoners showed that Germany had not observed the dietary scale. Many would have been starved without the parcels from Ragland. Replying to a suggestion of reprisals, he said it might have grave consequences, and there was no reason why we should follow Germany’s bad example.