HOME IMPORTANT ACTIONS.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 8, Issue 122, 24 May 1916, Page 3

HOME IMPORTANT ACTIONS.

LONDON, May 22. South of Berryanbac we successfully exploded two mines on HiJl 108.

In Champagne the Germans discharged gas between South Sommcpy and St. Hi 1 lario, without result. A sharp change of wind turning back the gas into the enemy trenches. On the loft bank of the Meuse infantry actions were continued, during the night, at Avacourt Wood, where the French grcnardiefs gained an advantage occupying several blocks evacuated by the enemy. In the region of Mort Homme the combat was particularly bloody, enemy attempts to increase progress being broken by fire curtain and machine gun fire. A vigorous counterattack by the French allowed of the recapture of part of the ground lost on Saturday night. On the right bank of the Meuse several attempts against the position a( Haudromont Quarry, taken by us yesterday, were all stopped by our fire, the enemy losing heavily.

At Verdun French airmen attacked German captive balloons, six descending in flames. Three enemy machines wore brought down at Sparges." This morning enemy aviators bombed Dunkirk.

On Saturday and Sunday night the French successfully bombed railway stations at Metz, Sablons,. Avricourt, and Roye and munition depots at Bieche and Chapelotte, also Bivouacs at A/anne and at the village of Jemieiy. wherein an important commanding post was installed. Two French Dirigibles showered bombs on railway stations and railways at Briculles and Dun.

GERMANY’S ECONOMIC! STRENGTH. UNDER-ESTIMATED BY BRITISH. LONDON. 'May IS In flic House of Commons.- in Ho bate on the second reading of rhe Finance Bill, Mr Hewins said that people under-rated Germany’s economic strength. He complained of the policy of straining Free Trade to its limits, instead of considering other policies. Unless steps "were taken to remedy this many firms would be ruined after the war. The policy of prohibiting imports had broken down. The LiriT was the only remedy. The Paris conference was the most important of modern times. Everything now depended on onr own initiative. The Government should announce preferential treatment to the colonies and the Allies. The Hon A. Chamberlain agreed that it would be unwise to found hopes yn Germany’s economic exhaustion We

must roly on our own strength. The i condition of our finances, after an unexampled strain showed we coal'd continue the struggle as long as the necessary revenue returns exceeded the estimate, providing we do not overtrain our resources. Ho agreed that industry and commerce would require careful consideration after the war. He did not doubt that the various parties would evolve an agreement for the work of reconstruction. Certainly the Government could do much to help to organise and support industries. We have already immensely advanced towards an agreement. He was not bound to his exact pre-war tariff policy. He hoped the new system would bo formed on the basis of a national imperial policy.