News from England.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 269, 23 April 1915, Page 5

News from England.

MOUNTAINS OF AMMUNITION. A TREMENDOUS PROBLEM. MAGNIFICENT ORGANISATION OF GREAT BRITAIN. NO SHORTAGE YET. Received April 22, 5.5 p.m. London, April 22. Mr. W. 'A. S. Hewins, in the House of Commons, moved that it is urgently ne- ■ cessary that munition firms be controlled by a unified adminis#ation in direct touch with the firms. He said that Air. Ajquith's speech yesterday was unfortunate. He appeared to think there was great cause for contentment, but that speech had not contained one vital suggestion for dealing with the situation. Mr. Lloyd George agreed to the motion, but said that Mr. Hewins took no account of the War Office's special difficulties. It had hitherto been estima- • ted that the expeditionary force would consist of six divisions, but the force was now more than six times as large, and adequately supplied. Every man who had dropped had been replaced. This Was one of the most magnificent pieces of organisation ever devised. Ammunition was being expended on a scale never anticipated. As much had been expended at Neuve Chapelle as in the whole of the Boer war. The character of* the ammunition had been changed in the middle of the war. On expert advice the system of sub-con-tracts had been extended to thirteen different firms. If the contracts had come up to time, there would have been no shortage. As a last resort, the Government had taken over suitable works. If they took the figure 20 as the amount of artillery . ammunition manufactured in September, it was 90 in October and November, 156 in December, 188 in January, 256 in February, and 383 *■ in March. We were also assisting our Allies with explosives and other munitions. There were no deficiencies in ammu-

nition at the present moment, but the ■ eminent had to prepare generally for the war policy. Mr. BonarLaw said that Mr. Lloyd George's speech showed that he thoroughly realised the nature' of the problem. He criticised Mr. Asquith's optimism.

A SUCCESSFUL ORGANISATION. Received April 23, 1.10 a.m. London, April 22. Mr. Lloyd George paid a tribute to the services of Lord Moulton's commit- » to? for the production of high, explosives. Lord Moulton's energy had placed the production beyond anxiety, and enabled us largely to supply the Allies. GENERAL JOFFRE'S REQUIREMENTS. « 200,000 SHELLS A DAY. ADEQUATE SUPPLIES PROMISED. l Received April 22, 5.5 p.m. Paris, April 21. The British used six thousand kilogrammes of dynamite to blow up Mont St. Eloi. It is stated in military circles that seventy million rifle cartridges are used up daily, and seven millions for the machine-guns. The Franco - British . forces at the Marne fired 180,000 shells in one day. General Joffre notified the French Government ,in November that he Vould be unable to commence to drive one the Germans until he had a steady supply of 200,000 shells daily. This was promised for May 1. %■ t * ■ THE PREMIER'S OPTIMISM. ALLEGEDLY AT VARIANCE WITH FACTS. . Received April 22, 5.5 p.m. London, April 22. Newspaper comment points out a remarkable divergence between Mr. Asquith's optimism —that there was not a word of truth in the statement that the army was being hampered by the " failure to produce ammunition —and Lord Kitchener's speech of March 15, faying that the progress of equipment ad seriously hampered the forces. ■ Nature's sweet face is decked with jewels rare, She weaves glad garlands in her sunny hair, She is a lady, fair beyond compare, But man is subject to'her darker moods, So to the rescue comes the cure of ' "Woods," The Peppermint Cure is really "just the , 'goods." 9

THE INDIAN FRONTIER RAID. NOT OF IMPORTANCE. AN EXPLOSION AT WOOLWICH. Simla, April 21. . The Mohmands advanced to Shabkadz on April 18, and engaged the patrols in the pass. A moveable column dispersed the invaders. The Khans of Peshawur are offering the Government assistance, and the Mullahs discounter' ance - the movement. London, April 21. An explosion occurred at iWoolwich arsenal? the cause being unknown. Three persons were seriously injured. Wolff's Agency announces that Sir Edward Grey spent several days at The 'iHague anil is now at Copenhagen. The canard is intended to induce the Germans to believe that Sir Edward Grey is secretly negotiating with neutrals for peace. ■ The Times' legal cr,-respondent urges legislation providing e lowances for the children of unmarried i. others, especially refugees who exporiem 'd the unspeakible ordeal of German brutality, the account to be subsequently presented to Germany. KING'S EQUERRY KILLED. Received April 22, 9 p.m. London, April 22. Lord Crichton, the King's Equerry, supposed to have been a prisoner in Germany, was killed in action. UNWELCOME BABIES. Received April 22, 7.25 pin.. London, April 22. Twentv women's societies have organised a conference to meet to-morrow to discuss the problem of prospective illegitimate babies, the result of the exceptional circumstances arising out of the mobilisation of the territorials and Kitchener's army.

"THE NAVY SAVED US." "TRUST THE ADMIRALTY." Received April 22, 7.25 pm.. London, April 22. A naval expert at Liverpool says: "We were once very near an invasion. The 'navy saved us, but never a word appear- ' ed in the newspapers. If it should happen that we lose several Dreadnoughts, we must trust the Admiralty." MINERS' STRIKE IS "OFF." DISCOUNTENANCED BY THE FEDERATION. Received April 22, 7.25 p.m. London, April 22. A conference of the Miners' Fcdera- j tion met at Westminster to discuss the I South Wales suggestion of a strike unless a 20 per cent, advance is conceded. Mr. Runciman, President of the Board of Trade, sent a message inviting a deputation to meet him at the Board of Trade. It is reported that the conference is disinclined to support the Welsh recommendation. The result of the meeting at the Board of Trade is not published.