News From England

Taranaki Daily News, 23 July 1915, Page 5

News From England

Mr. Steel-Maitland stid it was quite possible that German intrigues were behind the rising in Ceylon, but the stuation was now completely- in hand. The | situation at Singapore was more serious and the Government was now inquiring whether there wa* German complicity" Although interned Germans had escaped [ they had not participated in the mutiny. IMPERIAL CONFERENCE URGED. Received July 22, 10,30 p.m. London, July 22. The Morning Post, commenting on Mr. Bonar Law's speech, savs: The fighting in the outer Empire has been! largely -done by the self-governing peoples When a settlement comes it is right that they should be, consulted. This will hest be effected by an Imperial Conference whilfe the war is proceeding. We trust the Government will reverse its decision against this. Mr. Bonar Law will not be deterred by conventional excuses of permanent officials who want to save themselves trouble. Since the late Mr. J. Chamberlain left the Coionial Oliice it has fallen out of touch with colonial sentiment, and played the usual role of a wet blanket with depressing assiduity. We have not much faith in the grandiose scheme for a Parliament of the whole Empire, but the dominions and the mother country might discuss the foundations of a true union in a way common to a tra<lc union that is designed to keep Germany out of the British Empire. Wc also recommend Mr. Bonar Laws attention to schemes whereby the dominions will absorb some of our fighting men after the war.

DOMINIONS TO BE CONSULTED ON ALL WAR MATTERS. SEPARATION ALLOWANCE FOR TERRITORIALS. Received July 22, 5.5 p m. * / London, July 21. Baron Newton, in the House of Isolds, stated that 606,000 married regulars and 237,000 territorials had been granted 6Cparation allowances for their wivas, and since mobilisation twenty-five million pounds, exclusive of allowances, had been granted to other dependents. Mr. Steel-Maitlad, in the House of Commons, said that it was intended to take responsible Ministers of the coloims Into the Imperial Government's full confidence on every matter during the war, and at its end in the peace settlement questions. That was the reas-on Sir Robert Borden liad been pr- :i:tt at a Tecent Cabinet meeting. Th it was not to be an isolated phenonienoti, but part of the general trend of evciu>.

GERMAN COLONIES. PREPARED FOR WAR. THE BRITISH SPIRIT. London, July 21. Discussing the Colonial Office vote, llr. Bonar Law, Secretary for the Colonies, made a statement concerning the militftry operations against the German colonies. He said the Germans in Africa, as, in Europe, were much better prepared for war than we were. The spirit the British had shown in the various colonies, and the manner in which they had volunteered for service, was evidence that the spirit which had built up the Empire was never stronger and more marked than at the present time. The natives were also most loyal. He paid a tribute to the gallantry of the Canadians, New Zealanders and Australians, and expressed admiration for the quality of their troops and the services they-had rendered to the Empire. Britain had not got possession of the Cameroons, but the British hold was precarious and not likely to last long. ..,** When the war began our commerce was much interfered with by German cruisers, assisted by wireless stations in the Pacific and Africa. Therefore it was of the utmost importance to obtain possession of or destroy the stations. The most powerful one was the German Pacific Islands, and the suggestion was made that Australia and New Zealand should take possession of the islands containing the stations. They agreed. New Zealand undertook to seize Samoa, and within a week the New Zealand expeditionary force was ready.

DETAILS OF OPERATIONS. ROXAIt LAWS TUIIUTE TV. *., . OVERSEAS FORCES. Received July 22, "».."> p.m. London, .Inly 21. New Zealand, continued Mr. Ronar Law, occupied Samoa on the last day in August. (Oners.) 'the I'acilie which the Commonwealth undertook to deal with consisted of German Xew Guinea, the Bismarck Archipelago, and the Solomons. The Australian forces were escorted by three Australian battle-hips, one of which was in i.t the death of the Emden. (Cheers.) The occupation of the Islands did not take place without fighting, hut within a few months oi the outbreak of war all the islands were in our possession. In Togolaud, the only German oversea colony which h.-u paid its wav without being subsidised ''v German..-, there was an immense wireless station, costing about a quarter <>t a million pounds, which was in communication with llorlin direct. The Hermans destroyed the station before surrendering. In th" earlier stage- id' the campaign in the Cameroon*, v.e suffered -i-uw losses and had to retire to the Nigerian border; hut, with the assistant of the French, progress was ki pt up and we cap tured, on June 11, a strong town with considerable prisoners and war material. In regard to South-west Africa, he observed' that the Germans were consoling themselves that it had been woo by the Dutch under a Dutch general. The Germans were perfectly welcome to this consolation, but every citizen in the British Empire was pleased that it had been, won by a »clf-go\erning dominion, and that the Prime 'Minister of that dominion was the genera] in command. He- was sorry he was unable to announce a complete victory in 'East Africa, or even an advance: the position was largely one of "stalemate." From every British possession had come men to join forces with England. That was a fine record for us. As a nation we can say that neither business nor luxury has sapped the courage of the race, nor made us less able to fight than in the days when fighting was ncccssar-.' for the existence of the Empire. Our native levies had fought well and gallantlv: nowhere had thev shown a want of discipline, nor committed excesses. In one instance, where one of the legs of a machine-gun tripod was

shot away, two West African privates allowed themselves to he used as le"s efficiently until the enemy was driven on. All those who read General lan Waimltons despatches must feel that neither in this nor in anv other war has greater courage been shown than ol the Australasians when landing at Gallipoli. (Cheer (s.)

THE DOMINIONS' PART. T. P. O'CONNOR'S VIEWS. Received July 22, 9.30 p.m. London, July 22. Following Mr. Bonar Law, Mr. T. P. O'Connor said he hoped, for the sake of the inhabitants of the captured German colonies, they would never he asked to exchange a beneficent British rule for a German rule; that would be a poor return for the valor of our soldiers. The Government's pledge to consult the dominions upon its European policy at the conclusion of the war removed any reproach felt in Australia, New Zealand Canada, and South -\..:.;a, which countries were pouring uu. their blood and treasure.