THE WAR SITUATION.

Taihape Daily Times, 20 June 1918, Page 5

THE WAR SITUATION.

SPEECH BY MR BONAR LAW. THE OFFENSIVES REVIEWED. GERMANY’S IMPENDING FAILURE. LONDON, June 18. In the House of Commons, Mr Bonar Law in moving a credit for five hundred’ millions, said the daily average expenditure for the current financial year was £6,8448,000, compared with an estimate of £6,986,000 thereby effecting a saving of 9J millions to the middle of June. While this reduction must not be relied upon for the remainder of the year, it might be taken as a general indication of the position. Our votes of credit had risen alarmingly, and the total was now /432 millions. The present vote should suffice till the end of August. The debt due from tho. Allies totalled 1370 millions, and from the Dominions 206 millions. Continuing, Mr Bonar Law said the Austrian offensive was part of the intensive offensive now proceeding on all battle fronts. It was too soon to say that the danger had passed. Three months had elapsed since first German offensive on the West front, and wc were now able to be confident regarding the future. The Germans had three objectives —Paris, the Channel ports, and the severance of the Anglo-French armies. We had yielded ground, but the enemy had not. attained a single objective, and the results had justified the united command. The enemy wanted to use up our reserves before the Americans arrived, but had already failed, because "the Americans are not coming; they have come!” He paid a tribute to the rapid arrival of America’s troops, and said it would be impossible to win by wearing down our reserves before ho exhausted his own. The universal fooling was that our airmen were the best on the West front, and wc were rightly proud of them. Germany had been laying all her hopes of success on submarines. All this had changed. The menace still existed, but the construction of ships during April and May had exceeded the destruction .and' there was J no danger, as far as foresight could see, of Germany starving Britain into submission. Germany had embarked On unrestricted submarining because she believed America could not arrive in time to give serious help. Germany had now boon shown to be wrong. The number of American troops arriving and to come had reached a figure which was considered impossible a couple of months ago. For the present there was a lull on the West front. Our staff knew where the German reserves were, but the enemy’s railway communication was so good, it was impossible to foretell where the next blow would fall. Our troops’ morale was never higher, and it was impossible to speak too highly of the French valour in fighting to save Paris. If the Germans failed to secure rhclr strategic objectives in- three months’ ■ time the campaign would have failed, having proved the most disastrous advance they had ever launched. (Cheers.

The House of Commons passed the vote of credit.

Mr Bonar Law, in concluding the debate said: “I am rather shocked 7 to hear that everyone considered my speech optimistic. I did not mean it to be. I meant to give an exact description, after consultation with the military authorities. I agree with Mr Asquith’s statement that the position is as critical as over but I have a firm conviction that we shall come through. ’ ’ Mr Asquith advised the Government to give fuller information as to the progress of events on all fronts. He was not disposed to write Russia otf the slate as a negligible quantity. Wo should employ all the resources of diplomacy, and also give the naval and military assistance if necessary, while the opportunity offered } in order to build up friendly relations and an alliance with Russia, which is naturally our friend rather than Germany’s The House should enable Russian democracy to realise that it has our •sympathies.

It transpired during the debate in the House of Commons that General Foeh is dfcf finitely Commandcr-in-Chicf of the Allied Forces.