BRITAIN.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 March 1916, Page 5

BRITAIN.

THE SHAMROCK. ■ ST, PAT'S DAY IN LONDON". KING INSPECTS THE IRISH GUARDS. London, March IT. There was a spirited sale of Irish flags and shamrocks in London in aid of the Irish Soldiers' Fund. The Queen distributed Queen Alexandra's shamrocks to the Trish Guards. Tin' King inspected the Guards and paid a tribute to their splendid achievements in the lirst campaign liv which they had fully maintained the high traditions of the Guards Brigade, He recalled the heroism during the Hons retreat and the critical days at Ypres when, as Lord Cavan wrote, "The survivors showed the enemy that the Irisli Guards must be reckoned with, however hard Int." After 28 days of incessant lighting against .heavy odds, the first bsttalio* came out less than a company strong, and with only four oflicers "This is a glorious tribute," said the , , n ?L ' 0 the loyalty and endurance »f the Irish. You have shown that the fluamroek' stands for loyalty, e»ura«e and endurance in adversity. Mar it curry y6u to victory." A STIRRING SPEECH. MR. HUGHES TO AMERICA. London, March 17. At a reception given by the Pilgrims' Uub, Lord Bryce presiding, Mr. Hughes said that we were grateful to Americans for the help given. He did n»t think the present an opportune time te judge America's attitude towards the war. Australians liked the Americans—in fact, longed for closer friendship. "My message to America is: 'We are winning without a shadow of doubt, and when the vaßt might of the Empire is organised we shall be completely victorieus If, however, a malign strike af fate turns the issue agaiast us the cl»ck «f civilisation will he set back a hundred years. I. as a representative of lab#r, declare thai all the ideals we cherish, all the ideals upon which rests the foundation of liberty, must fall if we lose the battle.'"

"We have heard of Balaclava, but the story of the Eighth Light Horse «f Australia is one alongside which the charge of the Light Brigade must pale. These men attacked knowing they were going to certain death. Most of them fell dead, and only the merest handful survived. We will either emerge triumphant from this battle «r go dewn with all the prospects of achieving our destiny for ever damned."

After explaining the Australian compulsory service system, Mr. Hughes concluded in these words: "Our tremendous ami ferocious foe is up against a wall of steel which he cannot break. We must win/' MB. HUGHES' CAMPAIGN". Received March 20, 12.55 a.m. London, March 19. The Observer says that Mr. Hughes should persevere with big campaign In Britain, for far ahead of the Government and Parliament is the overwhelming majority of the country which is with him. Neither Britain nor the Dominions want ». centralised or rigid system, but both demand a co-ordinated policy for making the Empire a vital organism. Kven the slow minority in Britain is doubtless in the meed to recognise that some form of federation is desirable. AN ENEMY PROTEST. WILL NOT B2 RECOGNISED. Received March 26, 12.5 a.m. London, March 19. Sir Edward Grey, through the American Embassy, in reply to the AustroHungarian protest against the forcible repatriation of Austro-llungarians in India, aboard the Golconda, and holding Britain responsible for their lives and health, repudiates responsibility in this connection and emphasises the Govern-

wont's attitude in tlie mat tor. 11l view of tlio openly-announced intention of tlie Central I'owerg to resort to a more intense form of submarine warfare, Sir Edward firey adds that Britain does not propose to take precautions on bohaif of Austro-Hungariaiis which that Government does not take on behalf of its own subjects. BELGIAN RELIEF. AUSTRAL ASIA'S WONDERFUL RESPONSE. Received March 19, 5.15 p.m. London, March IS. The National Committee of Relief for Belgium states that out of £1,400,000 transferred to Hoovers by the commission, to the end of February, £ 737,403 came from Australia and £291,759 from New Zealand. VOICE OF THE DOMINIONS. BINDING THE EMPIRE CI.OSER. Received March 19, 3.5 p.m. London, March IS. T-ovd Brvce, introducing Mr. Hughes at tlie Pilgrims' Club, said the constitution of the Empire ought not to remain a? at present. Much hnd been done in the past twenty months to bring the Dominions and the Mother Country closer together. They only required to know each other better, and the war had done much in this direction. "We shall address ourselves to the task, which is not beyond the resources of those concerned, with a view to framing a constitution which will hold the Empire perfectly together, giving the Dominion a a definite voice-"