0STEND SEVERELY BOMBARDED

Taranaki Daily News, 21 September 1915, Page 5

OSTEND SEVERELY BOMBARDED

doings on gallipoli SIR lAN HAMILTON'S DISPATCH BULGARIA COMING ROUND 67 (Mls—greM A*ioelatiqn—Copyright. BRITAIN. I A NATIONAL CALAMITY.

fITHE MINISTER OF MUNITIONS.

£odbs oqx> qn troubled waters, TO A OORRIgjPONDENT. „ London, Sept. 19. me Press Bureau announces that Mr. i .G? )rge > replying to a conrtituents letter; gayg ; —. ■ 'J ou say rightly that the Govemmeni ought to give tiie nation a lead Hpon the question whether the moral I evel 7 man to ought to be convicted lato illegal obligation. I can assure you that the Government isfuHy aijve to , the necessity of giving a definite lead, and is now examining the sublet with the view of rightly deciding *u_ "^ ue l ela y or undue precipitation, which might be equally disastrous., THE QUESTION ONB OF FACT. "Let us avoid both, and decide the JMue on fa«t and not on principle. If «• figures demonstrate that we can wm through on voluntaryism, then it v Would be foUy to provoke a controversy ill the middle of a world-war by attempts to substitute a totafly different method. On the other band, if the WW demonstrate to everyone unprejudiced that voluntaryism has exhOTsUd its utility, and that nothing ra« legal pressure can give us the anmjs necessary to defend the honor , of Britain and save Europe from the triumph of military despotism, I, have heard of no man who would in those circumstances resist compulsion. "Men who say they will resist if this expedient proves necessary to save the country and the freedom of the world have not yet appeared in the arena. If they do appear, I predict they will not o« found among the working classes. The question is wholly one of ascerUiaiito fast. Why, then, all this premataire anger about determining facts ngt yet published! When the facts are sifted and -made known the advocates of either view will surely find that the whole of this cyclonic fervor and ferocity hag been wasted in attacking positions - Which t&ey will then discover they ought to defend. Let the Government have a fair chance to decide. AD this clatter and racket outside the Council Chamber is fatal to deliberation. "POISON TO GOOD COUNSEL." "I especially beg t,he public to pay no heed to the pert graphs escribing C6rtain' attitudes to different Ministers. These are invariably inspired by hostile intent, and the ta*k of contradiction would be endless. When the time comes these Ministers are quite capable of defining, and will not hesitate to define, their own views. Meanwhile, let personal recrimination drop; it is poison to all good counsel. "In every controversy there are mean little persons who assume their own motives for talcing up a line are of the most exalted and noblest character, and that those daring to differ from them are animated by the basest personal aims. They are a small faction, but they are the mischief makers and often pervert discussion into dissension, seemingly aiming to spread distrust and disunion among men whose co-operation is essential 1 to the national success. These creatures ought to be stamped out relentlessly as soon as they are seen crawling along the floor. THE ISSUE OF THE GRAVEST. ''Opinions I pat forward regarding the essential action are prompted by the sincere persuasion that nothing but the exertion of our whole strength can obtain the victory upon which so much depends. Having come to that conclusion I am bound to do my ibest to secure that effort, without the least regard for the effect my appeals may have on my own political fortunes. The issue is the gravest any country was ever called on to decide. Let it be settled in a spirit worthy of its gravity. "I withdraw nothing I have said regarding the seriousness of the position, and naturally take a hopeful view of the prospects of the cause in which I am concerned, but know too well that to ignore the dangeiß which we can see with the naked eye is the most fruitful source of disaster in all affairs. "Events alone will prove whether I have been unduly alarmed. I have been pointing out for months the dangers of the present war, and I should indeed be a traitor if I did not hope fervently that the course of the war may prove I over-estimated the worst evils. STICKS TO HIS OPINION. "I have not written without warrant In the facts known both to the enemy and ourselves, facts which I thought would already have sobered the most fatuous optimist. Therefore, I felt driven by the jeopardy of my native land to sound the note of alarm, and have done so in the confident belief that if it succeeds in rousing us in time to put forth all our strength we shall win. If for any reason I fail, it will be sorry comfort to be able later to taunt with their mistake those I know are abusing me, because I am daring to call attention to the coming storm before it overwhelms the land, and because I am striving to induce my fellow-country-man to prepare in time for its onttavbW

London, Sept. 19. Lord Selborne, speaking at Norwich, said Lord Kitchener had consented to exempt skilled agriculturists from enlisting. He warned the public to believe little they saw in the papers regarding , national service. The present controversy was a national calamity. HOW BRITISH CONSCRIPTION IS VIEWED IN GERMANY. The Hagu4, Sept. 19. German press comments show disappointment at the prospect of the British Government taking the momentous decision for conscription, as it was hoped Britain and her allies, wishing to avoid a winter campaign, would try to arrange peace. The tone of the press has undergone a remarkable change; instead of contempt for British military effort the newspapers and military experts dwell lengthily on the possible results of conscription, and discuss how Germany can foil the new move.

IDLE WORKERS IN COURT. London, Sept. 19. •The Liverpool Munitions Court heard summonses against Cammell, Laird and Co.'s employees. Charges against 238 men were withdrawn, the representatives of the men admitting the offence and promising to do their best to prevent its repetition.

WOUNDED SOLDIERS ENTERTAINED Received Sept. 30, 8.10 p.m. London, Sept. 20. Sixty motor-cars collected 160 wounded Australians and New Zealanders from the hospitals in London and suburbs for a concert and tea organised by the National Liberal Club. "SHOUTING" FORBIDDEN. London, April 20. The military decision prohibiting "treating" as essential to the wellbeing of troops affects t)ie Metropolitan police district, embracing seven hundred equate miles. The order will probably be issued on Tuesday, and applies to clubs and restaurants as well as to saloons. Anyone paying for another, or giving him money to pay, or anyone serving drink except to the person paying, is liable to punishment.

THE ANTHEM. SCENE IN A SYNOD. Received Sept. 20, 8.30 p.m. Ottawa, Sept. 20. There was an unprecedented demonstration in the Anglican Synod when a letter from the House of Bishops was read, over-ruling the - decision of the lower House for the deletion of the second verse of the National Anthem. The Bishops decided that the verse could be sung with all propriety in wartime, and members enthusiastically sang the verse, with tumultuous cheering.