IN THE WEST.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 February 1916, Page 5

IN THE WEST.

UNHAPPY BELGIUM. THE HUNS' POUND OF FLESK STATEMENT BY SIR E. GREY, Received Feb. 21, 5.5 p.m. '"." London, Fob. 20. Sir Edward Grey has issued a copy of a memorandum that he sent to the Belgian Minister in response to frequent representations of the impending ruin'of Belgian industries and universal unemployment.

Sir Edward Grey states that he understands the strong feeling among the Belgians that their distress is attributable solely to the action of the Allies in pi eventing imports, and that it is often contended that this action does not appreciably harm Germany, while it involves painful loss on the people of our ally. Britain is not convinced that Belgian industry can be maintained without considerable gain to the enemy; still, the Government is anxious to assist, and therefore has permitted certain exports from Belgium for the same reason that she has permitted the importation of raw materials to Belgium through the Relief Commission. The undertakings demanded from the Germans were that they would permit free importation of raw material and the export of the goods manufactured therefrom, through the Relief Commission, and also to be free from embargo or the requisition of stocks similar to the raw materials held by manufacturers remaining in the country. The scheme was submitted to the Germans four months ago, but no reply was received.

The memorandum shows that Belgium is being used to supply Germany. Sir Edward Grey says that the Germans are determined to enter into no arrangement for the relief of Belgium until they have taken from the country the last ounce of material and have caused widespread destitution, forcing the Belgians to later emigrate to Germany. This Germany policy should be fully exposed. The exports from Belgium to Germany in November, on one route only, were 74,000 tons of coal, 6100 tons of phosphates, 100 tons of lead, 1350 tons of ore, and 1000 tons of briquettes. Previous exports included 1600 casks of tanning extract, and half the output of the Belgian textile mills was requisitioned of all the most essential materials. The Belgian industries are controlled in Gorman interest now, and the fixed policy of the Germans to impoverish the country stands revealed. Britain must disclaim any responsibility towards the Belgians for the evils which the enemy has ".aused and refuses to remove;

GENERAL HAIG'S REPORT. A SUCCESSFUL RAID. r ; Received Feb. 21, 9.15 p.m. London, Feb. 21. General Sir Douglas Haig reports that tlie enemy on Saturday night raided trie trenches westward of Serr, after a heavy bombardment, but failed completely. The enemy south-east of Boesinghe seized an unimportant advanced post. Our aeroplanes made a successful night raid on the Cambrai aerodrome and exploded bombs inside the shed. A GERMAN REPORT Receive! Feb. 21, 9.5 p.m. London, Feb. 21. A German communique says: We stormed 350 yards of the British position on the Yser Canal, and attempts to recapture them failed. There is vigorous lighting southward of Loos.