GREAT BRITAIN.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 149, 18 November 1914, Page 5

GREAT BRITAIN.

' MR ASQUITH REPLIES TO CRITICISM. ' ; ' OFFICERS' (PAY. • PROMOTIONS FROM THE RANKS. .WAR CORRESPONDENTS. f , Heceivfed 17, 3.5 p.m. London, November 16. Beplying to criticisms in the debate, Mr. Asquith said that Ix>rd Kitchener bad drawn up a scheme for increasing ! the pay of the junior officers, which the Treasury was considering. General French was freely utilising his powers to promote non-commissioned officers and privates to commissions for gallantry and services in the field. Britain was not a free agent in the matter of war correspondents, being obliged to regulate her proceedings by • the wishes of her Allies, who had the chief share of the fighting. FURTHER STATEMENT BY MR. ' ASQIHTH. CENSORSHIP JUSTIFIED. DUTY TOWARDS NEUTRALS. 1 HEALTH OF THE FORCES. J MORE MEN REQUIRED. 1 ' 'Received 17, 6.55 p.m. London, November 16. In the 'House of Commons, Mr. Asquith said that no war news had beeta withheld except under stress of imme- . diate exigencies. While supplies were being withheld from the enemy, it was necessary not to act high-handedly with ■neutrals. Larger supplies of coal were going to Scandinavia, because the German supplies had stopped. He denied that from 30 to 40 per cent, of the soldiers were suffering from preventible diseases, from drink, and other causes. Careful inquiries had disclosed that from 10 to 15 j>er cent, would cover all the sickness. He believed that never was a body of ' men comporting themselves so well, and showing such regard Ho sobriety and decency of conduct as now. There were, he said, 1,100,000 of the regular army, apart from 200j000 Territorials, but these were not enough.

THE COST OF THE WAR. \j» HOW THE MILLIONS ARE EXPENDED. Received 17, 10 p.m. London, November 17. In the House of Commons Mr. Asquith said the daily cost of tbe war was unlikely to be diminished. The larger part of the first hundred million was spent on military operations, loans to Allies, and disbursements for the purpose of securing British food supplies, cspecially sugar and wheat. The cost would be recouped tfk the Exchequer when the consumers paid. The greater part of 2-25 millions would be spent on the Army and Navy, but 46 nuQions consisted of loans, whereof 30% millions would go "to Canada, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand, obviating the necessity for their coining to the London market. A portion, he hoped, would be expended in commodities, which it was necessary to exclude from the use of their opponents. • r:. i • - ARMY CLOTHING. A FORMIDABLE LIST. THE KING VISITS RECRUITING CAMPS. ■\r* , ■ Received 17, 5.15 p.m. London, November 16. Orders for Army clothing comprise 5,230,000 dress jackets, 1,500,000 great coats, 7,000,000 pairs of pants, 6,500,00 C pairs of boots, 5,000,000 pairs of trousers 11,0000,000 shirts, 11,000.000 pairs oi socks. The khaki ordered from the Yorkshire mills would extend for 10,000 miles The King is busy visiting the recruit ing camps. He advocates the transfci of the troops from canvas to woodei huti '& RECRUITING CRITICISM. , '' Received 17., 5.15 p.m. ' London, November 16. The tTrflnme's tp ,thi t effect - -Mrf inSrKfer g^ecruitsfo i. the , the Jritish Empire.

j . WAR VOTE OF 225 MILLIONS. . DAILY COST OF WAR. ■" ' Received 17, 6.55 pjn. London, November 16. The House of Commons agreed to a war vote of 225 millions, also to an extra million men. • Mr. Asquith stated that the actual cost of tlie war was between £900,000 and £1,000,000 daily. (MEETING WAS EXPENDITURE. i Received 18, 12.25 a.m. London, November 17. The Times' expert, writing -with regard to speculation on the possibilities of the War Budget, points out that incomes have been lowered owing to the economic disturbance, and any increased taxation will be peculiarly difficult. Nevertheless, the Ministry wjll possibly propose to meet part of the war expenditure from revenue, and certain articles of consumption previously free will be taxed.