News from England

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 208, 10 February 1915, Page 5

News from England

* WHAT GERMANY WANTS TO KNOW. the sieeiigjh of the British ■FORCE. SPEECH BY THE UNDERSECRETARY TOR WAR. "SO ONE IS DESPONDENT. ■Beccived 11, 5 p.m. London, February 9. Mr H. J. Tennant, Under-Secretary for War, in the House of Commons, sari the thing above all that the enemy wasted to know was the number of men this would %e opposed to them in the future. It ires possible to make a fair computation i n conscription countries, but it was not so easily done under England'* happy voluntary principle. He Itoped that nobody knowing the figures wouM 'be so irresponsible as to divulge them. Our initial difficulty was to provide TOfficient accommodation for the men who flocked to the colours. That difficulty had been gradually overcome. Wheal -numbers of the troops brought from "Overseas scatiiless was known it would'be regarded as one of the most extraorifinary "feats of the war. "The supply of horses meets all future requirements. Mr Tennant testified to the efficiency of-the medical service, anil concluded by saying that "although we are unable to forecast what is in front of u* no one in the House is despondent. All are determined that the Allies should dictate "the terms of peace. The nation's efforts -are worthy of our past, and the gallantry of our soldiers, of the highest and the lowest rank, is worthy to rank among the most glorious records of any army at any time." ' Replying to Mr Long, Mr Tennant stated 'thai General Sir la n Hamilton was responsible for "Home defence. BRITISH CASUALTIES OVER 100,000. RECRUITING STILL SATISFACTORY. PROPOSED MEDAL FOR WORKERS. London, February 3. Mr AsqurtJi, in the House of Commons. said the casualties of the expeditionary foree to February 4 were " 101,000. In the House of Commons, "Mr Tennant. Under-Secretary for War, t n introducing if remind! Arjiy "Mates, made a guarded statement. He said it was impolitic to announce the numbers and distribution of the army. Recruiting was very satisfactory and there was no cause for diseontent, still less for disquiet. Though more men were needed, it might have made inroads on imjKwtant industries. | He appealed to the Labor party to help the Government to enable women to replace men during the war. Trade 1 i nionists might adopt less stringent Factory Act regulations. They had already been abrogated in many works.

There had not been a single casualty daring the world-wide transportation of . troops. r British-made aeroplane engine* were' now used in aeroplane*, *nd were so well made that they lasted twice as Ion? as any other. The recruiting for the flying corps was extraordinary. He added that Loid Kitchener wuj considering the issue of a medal to technical workers in armament and otli'T industries. Mr Barne«, M.P., stated that actuarial estimates showed that the pensions and allowance recommended by the select committee would cost 346 millioi s. THE POPE'S PRAYER FOP. PEACE. BIG COXCIiEOATHIN'S IX EUROPE. London. February St. The Pope's prayer for peace was offered i n Westminster Cath'dral and .'i! other Catholic churches in Europe. Tlice were sixty thousand present at t-t, Peter's in Rome, and an immense co 1 !- „ pregation in Paris at Xotre IXim".

PRESS BUREAU CRITICISED. THE SYSTEM DEFENDED. Received 9, 11.5 p.m. London, February 0. A debate followed on Mr King's motion, in the House of Commons ondtmning the Press Bureau for restricting the freedom of the Press. He declared that its working had caused suspicion and discontent, and that its Methods and principles were wholly unintelligible. i9r S. O. Buekniaster said the motion was based on a char«c that the Bmvau had withheld information. On the contrary the Bureau published instantly everything that it had power to publish, but nothing was issued unless it was absolutely true. His first duty was to prevent the publication of news that would undly depress people when the news was out of relation to the true facts. He denied that he had ii -ft the office to shield his colleagues from criticism. • • BONAR LAW'S VIEWS. REGULAR BULLETIN'S WANTED. IMPORTANCE OF BATTLE OF YPRES Received 10. 1 a.m. London, February '9. Mr BonarXaw said it would be a'great' advantage if bulletins were regularly issued, similar to those issued in France. He wondered if the nouse realised the tremendous event that the battle of Ypres was. "We had," he said, "bigger losses there than almost in any battle in our history wherein purely British troops were engaged, and out of which we came with great honour. 7t was time the country knew the details <of the battle." The motion was negatived. COST OF THE WAR. DISCLOSURE INADVISABLE. Received 9, 11.10 p.m. London, February 9. A Treasury minute points out that it is undesirable, even ( if it were possible, to give detailed estimates of the cost of the war. One difficulty was the impossibility of forecasting if t'le war wttl end with the current financial year. It was also not in the public interest to disclose the nature and extent of the operations wherefor provision was repaired. Therefore, in a war where the whole of our resources were involved ordinary procedure would be arbitrary and artificial. They must proeeed by votes of credit. Nominal votes were now submitted to afford a statutory basis for appropriations to enable the House of Commons to discuss them.