BRITAIN

Taranaki Daily News, 8 May 1916, Page 5

BRITAIN

MR. LLOYD GEORGE. REPLY TO EIS CRITICS.. NEED FOR NATIONAL UNITY. Received May 7, 11.30 p.m. London, May 6. Mr. Lloyd George, speaking at Conway, said thnt the task on hand was not one for one or two parties, but for the whole nation. It was necessary to preserve absolute national unity until there was a national triumph. The sole condition of victory was unity. In a month's time he would give an account of his stewardship after a year's munition 'work. In the meantime he could say that the output of munitions, and also the capacity to furnish further supplies, had enormously increased. SO INDIGNITY IN COMPULSION. The nation's achievement of raising huge voluntary armies was something whereof they might well be proud; it was almost unparalleled in history. The numbers had diminished at the end of the summer, when it 'became clear that the Government must resort to other methods, There was no indignity in compulsion, which simply meant that the nation organised itself for war in an orderly, consistent, and resolute fashion. OUR AID TO THE ALLIES. "We could not," he said, "run tile war like a Sunday school treat: we could not make the same contribution in men, in proportion to population, as France is doing, because we are supplying France and our other allies with steel, coal, and explosive material; but there is still a considerable margin of men. If the need to arouse the increasing of our armies is wanted, women are coming forward in larger numbers to rescue the men. Nearly three hundred thousand women are engaged in munition works. THE DERBY SCHEME., "I believed, and still believe, that the necessity for compulsion arose in Sep tomber. I admire Lord Derby's colossal efforts, but the Derby scheme was not voluntary, and it possessed many of the , disadvantages of compulsion and voluntarism without the advantages of either." A PERSONAL DEFENCE. Mr. Lloyd George denounced the base, treacherous, and personal intrigues Of those who alleged that he was capable of advancing his own ends, when he was bent on winning the war. He was glad that his clandestine and surreptitious assailants had now been forced into tjie open, and had been subjected to a cloudy discharge of poison gas. "If any man believes the testimony of a person who invents private .conversations in order to malign a friend, I seek neither his friendship nor his support. I have worked with Mr. Asquith for ten years most harmoniously, and I would have ill-requited Mr. Asquith's great kindness if I remained an automaton, not (pressing my opinions freely and candidly and independently as a counsellor, professing constant agreement with my leader, but only betraying him. I viewed this war with hatred, and therefore I wished this to be the last, but it would not be the last unless is were effectively conducted.

TIME NOT AN ALLY "Time is not our ally; Time is a doubtful neutral which, has not yet been won over to our side. The Allies are united, but their design and co-ordina-tion have left much to be desired. Austro-Germany are pooling all their forces, brains, and efforts. We possess the means, but the Germans too often possessed the methods. Let us apply their methods to our means, and victory is certain. TRUST THE PEOPLE. "I say, 'Trust the people,' Tell them what is happening. There is nothing to conceal. Our peonlS' lire courageous, and they would respond with enduring steadfastness, devotion, and faith." Mr. Lloyd George received a unanimous vote of confidence. He also addressed an immense over- , flow meeting. Received May 7, 5.5 p.m. London, May 8. | Great interest is centred in Mr. Lloyd George's meeting at Conway to-day. where he will reply to the attacks made on him. Applications for seats have been fourfold the number available, and newspapers at home and abroad have made special arrangements for reporting his speech. COMPULSION BILL.

FRANCE DELIGHTED. Times and Sydney Sun Services. London, May 5. The Times' correspondent in Paris says that France is delighted at the introduction of compulsion in England, French statesmen realising that it makes easier their determination to sec things through. The numbers of the British army came as a great surprise to the general public.

GROUP SYSTEM REOPENED. Times and Sydney Sun Services. Received May 6, 5.5 p.m. London, May 5. The War Office announces that the group system has been reopened for unattested married men and single men who are exempted under the new Act, and they can join their respective groups. A new group, called Group A, has been formed for those born in 1898, and is opening on Saturday.