BRITAIN.

Taranaki Daily News, 31 January 1916, Page 5

BRITAIN.

THE STRANGLE-HOLD, MR. LLOYD GEORGE O.N MUNITIONS. BRITAIN'S GREAT ARMY. Received Jan. 30, 3.5 p.m. Milan, Jan. 29. II Sccolo had an interview with Mr. Lloyd George, in the course of which he said: "I am satisfied with what we are doing. We have 2300 factories, employing a million and a half men and a quarter of a million women. Thoy are satisfying' not only the requirements of our own army, but also our allies, particularly Russia. French journalists have inspected our factories, and Russians and Italians will inspect them shortly. "I' am perfectly confident of victory, because the Allies are at last taking counsel together. France, Russia and Italy have reorganised their armies, and we had to create a new one. We have three million men under arms, and by the spring will have a Wiillion more." Asked about the possibility of a military deadlock, Mr. Lloyd George said that that would be at an end*. Victory must be real. The final pressure on the enemy was becoming greater; they were spreading their frontiers temporarily, but they were weakening in military power, and hence the process of strangulation was slow but sure. The Central Empires had lost the opportunity of victory, and they knew it. "It is a grim struggle, but the enemy is on the down grade. We may make mistakes, but we v'l never give in."

(MEAT FOR FRANCE. AMERICAN CONTRACT DROPPED. ■-'<■ Received Jan. 30, 5.5 p.m. | London, Jan. 29. Sir Thomas Mackenzie, explaining his speech at his reception last Wednesday, said that Sir Thomas Robinson and himself had learned that a contract was proposed between the French Government and . American meat firms for 120,000 tons of frozen meat annually, at war prices, operating until ISI2O or three months after-the conclusion of peace, from the River Plate. The meat was to be carried .exclusively in French bottoms, and admitted duty free, an advantage of twopence per pound. Within two boms of being informed the British Government decided to act, and the negotiations, during the course of which Sir T. Robinson visited France, resulted in the project being dropped, although the Bill was before the Senate. Our protest was based on the fact that the unfair concession to neutrals which was denied the British dominions, who were capable of supplying meat on equal terms, would seriously affect the Australasian meat trade, and we arrived at a satisfactory arrangement with France for obtaining meat from British and other sources on equal terms. The Agents-Genera) at a meeting decided definitely to inquire regarding the British Government's freight intentions. It is believed that Australian produce can come normally if Britain has not cancelled the arrangements for ships.

MR. FISHER OX AUSTRALIA'S PART IN" THE . WAR. Received Jan. 30, 5.5 p.m. London, Jan. 20. The Australian Press Association had an interview at Paris with Mr. Fisher, who said: "The work of our men at Gallipoli'was nothing more than we expected. The Australians look upon the war as being us much their war as Britain's. There arc perhaps ,70,000 Ger-man-born citizens in Australia who are quite good Australians. 'Many of them left their birthplace because they, could not tolerate its political conditions. At important points an ally is usually consulted, but meanwhile we are with England to the end, in men, money, heart, and arms.'' Asked about the economic effects of the war in Australia, *Mr. Fisher said that so far they were not serious. After the war he did not doirbt that there would be a ilow of people to the distant dominions. He was sure that Australia and New Zealand would receive immigrants with open arms and -give them every possible opportunity. The Australians, he said, did not wisli to criticise the acts of those responsible for carrying on the war. Some day they may have something to say, but the time is not yet. Mr. Fisher emphasised the importance of a cheap cable service, which would be of incalculable benefit to Britain and the dominions.

BRITAIN'S STUPOR. i ADMIRAL BEATTY'S OPINION. A HUMBLE AND CONTRITE HEART. Received Jan. 30, 5,5 p.m. London, Jan. 28. Admiral Beatty, in a letter to the Society for the promotion of Christian Knowledge, says: — "Surely Qo([ does not intend this war to be a blood-drunken orgy; there must be a purpose in it. and an improvement must be the outcome. France has already shown the way with a wonderful revival of religion, and similarly has Russia, but England yet remains to come out of the stupor of self-satisfae-tton and complacency .wherein her Ilourishing condition has steeped, her. Until she is stirred out of this condition and a religious revival occurs, just so long -will the war continue. When she looks to the future with humbler eyes, ■met a prayer on her lips, we can begin to count the days towards the end."

RETURNING SOLDIERS Received Jan. 30, 5.5 p.m. * London, Jan. 29. Sir Thomas Mackenzie, farewelled 130 incapacitated soldiers, who have left on their return to New Zealand,