THE WAR SITUATION

Taihape Daily Times, 15 November 1917, Page 5

THE WAR SITUATION

RUSSIA AND ITALY’S POSITION.

BRITISH DISCOMFITURE

AUSTRIAN GLOATINGS,

Received 10.10. LONDON, Nov 14,

The Morning Post’s Berne correspondent says the Austrian newspapers are gloating over the developments in Petrograd, hailing the triumph of a peace involving the defeat , of England, whereupon she cannot recover, alleging the complete discomfiture of English statesmen. The

Russians want freedom and peace, and England will have difficulty in refusing , it. The newspapers assert that the Italian situation robs the Allies of much reserve man power on the West front The Anglo-French and American plans for 1918 are already seriously disturbed.

BRITISH POLITICS. THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT. LONDON, November 14. The House of Commons passed a Bill prolonging the life of Parliament for eight months. BRITAIN’S WAR AIMS WILL NOT BE ALTERED. Received 11.5. LONDON, Nov 14, The House of Commons rejected an amendment, reducing the National war aims. THE POLITICAL ELEMENT AGAIN LLOYD GEORGE SCATHINGLY ASSAILED. Received 10.35. LONDON, Nov 14.

The Daily News describes Mr Lloyd George’s speech as the most lamentable blow struck during the war . j worth many victories to the enemy. If it be a crime to encourage the enemy and depress ourselves, this is a crime without parallel.

The paper proceeds to charge Mr Lloyd George with levity, choosing a foreign luncheon Instead of the House of Commons for a speech of indictment against his own nation. There are strong reasons for believing that his colleagues, and even members of the War Cabinet, were not consulted, and that they share the. astonishment and indignation with which press and public received his speech, which is a cruel false, and mischievous slander on Britain. It invites the Allies’ distrust, condemns us, and also belittles our own sacrifices.

The News quotes Lloyd George as saying when we advance a kilometre and snatch a shattered village out of the enemy’s cruel grip, we shout with unfeigned joy That was a travesty on the battle of the Somme, which saved France. It was Britain’s heroic effort that relieved Verdun, yet Lloyd George speaks thus to support his case. That we have been thwarted; that he is right and others are wrong. Who has had greater responsibility for the conduct of the war than Lloyd George? Yet he now throws accusations at his colleagues. The creation of a War Council has a sinister aim if British armies are to be surrendered to decisions of Cadorna and his colleagues, for then Haig and Robertson are virtually deposed. Lloyd George having made himself a political dictator at home and now having a right to sit in the War proposes to make himself a Military Dictator also.

LLOYD GEORGE TO EXPLAIN. LONDON, November 14. In the House of Commons, Mr. Asquith asked whether Mr. Lloyd George would make a statement to the House to-morrow on the very serious matter he touched upon in his Paris speech, and on which discussion might be necessary. Mr Bonar Law replied in the affirmative. EMPIRE’S DEBTS TO HER SOLDIERS. Received 10.10. LONDON, Nov 14, Sir Edward opening a soldiers’ hostel at Westminster, predicted the Government, would shortly announce a further advance in soldiers’ pay. The nation deserved to be doomed if it neglected the fighters after the war. Nothing that could be done was good enough for them.