Great Britain

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 12, 8 December 1916, Page 5

Great Britain

THE WAR COUNCIL.

PERSONNEL AND POLICY

Press Association. -Copyright, Austra-

lian and N.Z. Cable Association (Received i) a.in.)

Loudon, December 7

Lord Sydenham, in the course of an interview, said -It was imperative that tin* War Council should not consist of more than five who should be spared the pre-occupation of managing the large departments. At least, two ought to have' made a study of the war on land and sea; there should he one man with large practical business experience; and it was essential that tin l Prime Minister should he chairman, otherwise there would ho conflict between the War Council and the Cabinet. It was certain the fifth member ought to be a man .of great political experience and statesmanlike character. We have been attempting to pit amateurs against professionals, with the inevitable results, and if we repeat these" grave

mistakes, the remaining chance of success will be lost.

Lord Nunburnholme, in a letter to the newspapers, says: Iho country requires an executive consisting ol the, best soldiers, sailors, and business men, as for example, Admiral Sii John Jellicoe, General AV. P. Robertson (Chief of. Military .Stall'), Lord Devonport, Owen Phillips, and two good Labour men, who would see (1) that there were sufficient heavy batteries to utterly destroy all the German artillery, and save the present heavy losses ol infantry; (2) that there was a blockade of the w hole of Europe, including Neutrals, and thus cause an effective blockade; (3) that sufficient heavy guns were immediately produced ( so that merchantmen would be able to sink the submarines; (,|) that we should compel the immediate construction of at least one thousand standardised merchant ships additional to those already building, so as to secure an adequate food supply and the raw materials for mum-, tions for Britain and the Allies.

NEW CABINET SUGGESTIONS. MR ASQUITH WILL REPLY TO NORTHCLIFFE CHARGES. (Received 11.45 a.m.) London, December 7. Mr llonar Law suggested' Mr Asquith for Lord Chancellorship and an earldom if he joined the Cabinet, but Mr Asquith declined when other Liberals refused to co-operate. It is understood that Mr Henderson is drilling to join Air Lloyd George if the Labour Party approves.

The Daily News says Mr Asquith denies charges of vacillation during the negotiations with Mr Lloyd George as the Northcliffe newspapers alleged, and he will take an early opportunity to correct the statements. FRENCH TRIBUTE TO LLOYD GEORGE. Press Association— Copyright, Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received 11.45 a.m.) Paris, December 7. M. Clemencean says that if Mr Lloyd George is excluded from the British Cabinet it will bo worse'than the loss of a battle. NEW ERA OPENING. THE BLOCKADE AND NEUTRALS,

(Received 11.45 a.m.) Amsterdam, December 7. Handelsblad states that Mr Asquith’s resignation begins a new era. It is evident that with the sharpening of the blockade, the Neutrals troubles will bo increased.

THE COMMONS ADJOURNMENT.

Press Association—Copyright. Reuter’s Telegrams (Received 12.40 p.m.) London, December 7. The House of Commons met and immediately adjourned till the 12th inst. EXPLOSION IN MUNITIONFACTORY. Press Association-Copyright, Austra lian and N.Z. Cable Association Loudon, December 7. Official: By an explosion in a national factory in the north of England last night, twenty-six women workers were killed and thirty injured. The damage is slight.