CONDUCT OF THE WAR

Taranaki Daily News, 12 November 1915, Page 5

CONDUCT OF THE WAR

NEW WAR COUNCIL. OF ENGLISH AND FRENCH MINISTERS. London, Nov. 10. * Mr. Asquith, in the House of Coma mans, foreshadowed the. establishment of 'an Anglo-French War Council of Ministers. THE ESTIMATES. £400,000,000 WANTED. London, Nov. 10. Mr. Asquith is asking for 400 millions iteriiag. MR. ASQUITH'S STATEMENT. HUGE COST OF WAR. Received Not. 11, 5.6 pjn. London, Nov. 10. In the House of Commons, Mr. Asquith said that owing to technical mishaps he was unable to move a four hundred million war vote, but he proceeded with his statement, and will move the vote on Thursday. This vote marks an aggregate of war credits in the current financial year of thirteen hundred million,' and a total since the war began ■of 1662 millions. The total issued out of credit votes from April till November was £786,500,000. The Treasury retained £113,500,000, which, with the unexpended army and navy balances, was sufficient to carry on till the end of November. Thus the last credit vote had provided for our necessities longer than was anticipated. The net expenditure from April till November was £743,000,000, and the average net daily expenditure from September 12 to November 6 was £4,350,000.

THE DAILY COST. OVER £4,000,000. The army and navy and munitions, tietween April and November had cost 517 millions, repayments to the Bank of England 104 millions, and loans 98 millions. The upward tendency in the expenditure had continued, and he eould not hope that the expenditure would not increase for munitions, and loans to foreign Powers and the dominions. Loans to the Allies since the commencement of the year had been 59 millions, and to the dominions 39 1 /. millions. The war cost from September 12 till November U was £4,130,000 daily, and the net daily expenditure last week was well within the £5,000,000 previously estimated. It is expected that during the next two and a half months it will not exceed £5,000,000 daily, and thie vote ought to be sufficient to carry on until the middle of February.

MR. McICENNA'S STATEMENT,

ECONOMY AND THE WAR COUNCIL.

Received Nov. 11, 8.5 p.m. London, Nov. 10. Mr. R. McKenna, in the House of Commons, said that the special committee had long been considering every possibility of economy, particularly in the arifiy and navy, and had been examining contract prices for the elimination of competition tjetween the Allies. Regarding contracts, they were convinced that there was still much to do. In concluding, he mentioned that an important scheme had been adopted to enable a more intimate inter-communica-tion between the Allies. It was hoped soon to establish something in the nature of a common War Council, on whieh Anglo-French Ministers would be assisted by expert advice from the united General Staff. This War Council would control our conjoint militarv and naval operations. (Cheers.) Our General Staff would be strengthened, and it had been arranged for" an interchange of officers in the War Office with those at the front. Distinguished French officers were in daily communication with the War Office. Ho did not doubt that the Allies' fine spirit and their resources would bring the war to a triumphant conclusion. (Cheers.) Mr. Worthington Evans said he was surprised that Mr. Asquith had not stated a more comprehensive financial policy, disclosing the foreign investments. REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. RECALL OF OFFICERS. Air. J. A. Brj'ce asked whether the Allies had refused Serbia permission to attack Bulgaria before the latter mobilised, in order to anticipate the inevitable Bulgarian attack.

Lord Robert Cecil replied that Serbia was of opinion that an early attack would be the wisest military policy. Sir Edward Grey had sent no instructions to the Minister at Nish, but on September 27 Sir E. Grey wrote that all political and diplomatic arguments were against the proposed action, adding that he himself was no judge of the strategical considerations. Mr. H. Tennant, in reply to questions, said that several generals and officers had been recalled for various reasons, but none had been allowed to resign.