GENERAL CABLES

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3419, 25 February 1920, Page 5

GENERAL CABLES

BRITISH POLITICS. “dd WAR CRIMINAL TRIALS, ABOLITION OF CONSCRIPTION. Received 9.25 am. ' LONDON, Feb. 23. In the House _of’ Commons Mr Bonar Law, in replying to Hume Williams, said, no alteration had been made in the provision of the Peace Treaty for the trial of war criminals. He confirmed the announcement that the Allies had decided to postpone temporarily the immediate executor of provisions. He assured the House the Allies intended to make certain that all evidence was brought for the prosecution and that it was properly iput before the court; and. he added, ’Leipzig is suggested the venue of the court. ‘

In the Commons Mr Churchill, in introducing the Army Estimates, emphasised that conscription would torminate on 31st March. He claimed that Britain had created in a single year what. was broadly a pre-war regular army, also organised additional troops to discharge temporary and new liabilities. He mentioned that British Delegates fought at the Peace Conference for the abolition of conscription, but the only response came from Germany under dire compulsion. ('La.ughter.) All other States reai‘rned compulsory service, including the United States, the originator of- the League of Nations, and Russia. the home "of advanced political thought. (Cheers and laughter). Nevertheless Britain had returned to the voluntar,v s_vstem, and would have by 30th April 220,000 white troops, compared with 175,000 before the war; also, during the greater part of the year there would be 109,000 Indians.

PROUD OF BOLSHEVISM. _ VVASHINGTON, Feb. 23. ! Martens testified before the Senate‘ Committee. He said: “I am glad I am glad I am a Bolshevik, and I would he very glad to see America become Bolshevik, but I deny that I‘ am working to overthrow the United States Government -. g A 1 --—--—-——~ I BOLSHEVIKS REPULSED. I VOLUNTEERS CAPTURE ROSTOV.i -..___ » . V I Received 9.55 a.m. I LONDON, Feb. 23. 1 The War Oflice announces that the volnteer army, on 20th February, re-] captured Rostov, taking prisoner fif-1 teen hundred, twenty guns, quantity? -of War material. SUPREME COUNCIL DISCUSSION. HIGH PRICES AND EXCHANGE. Received 9.55-a.nl. ' ‘ LONDON, Feb. 23. The Supreme Council will arrange an early discussion with experts on the problems of high prices‘ and European rates of exchange. ’ i ‘_,VVAR MINISTER’S SPEECH. Received 9.55 am. LONDON, Feb. ‘.113. Summarising the army scheme Mr Churchill emphasised the Territorial Army would be normal, which means an expansion of British forces for supreme emergency, such as that of August 1914. Britain would be able to provide complete one cavalry divjsion and six divisions of regulars immediately, and in course -of the next few months, one yeomanry division. and fourteen divisions of territou-ials. complete with equipment, and :1 reserve behind. These Would he carlets capable of callinéinto beiffg a fur-’.:her twenty divisions. It is pl'oposed to reduce -garrisons in the Middle East to the barest minimum compatiable With Security, Sending I'einfol'cenlc>nts from Home or India in the event of lan emergency. ‘

Mr Churchill alluded to the fact that the Dominions fzomfemplated reDTO' ducing a number of divisions from their present very fine military material, but “adjustment of our relations with them would be undertaken in future monthsi” If the scheme succeeded Britain would have for some years a large latent reserve of trained manhood and ample war materials. Germany could not become formidable fo!‘ 3» number Of Years, while France and Belgium, who were organising large military forces, were bound. to Britain _-by ties of friendship and in interest which probably would be erubodied in military arrangements. Therefore, temporarily, there was no imminent danger in Western Europe, but the time might come when a, revival of military strength by German?‘ or by Germany and Russia combined. might necessitate drastic revision -of these arrangements. Concluding, Ml‘ Churchill reemphasised the fact That Britain alone among -the ‘nations bad abolished conscription, resulting in

limitat’ion_ of her-military power." We will have to d othe best with the forces at our disposa} to discharge our

duties to the Empire, and should My great emergency arise, we must trust —to our fleet and air fdrce, to give us time to ‘bring -the ‘mlght——in-esistible might as had -‘been pf'oved——of Britain into the field ' -