BRITAIN.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 May 1916, Page 5

BRITAIN.

COMPULSORY SERVICE. . NOW LAW IN BRITAIN. London, May 23. The House of Lords has passed the Military Service Bill. 'LORD KITCHENER'S VIEWS. Received May 24, 8.30 p.m. London, May 24. Lord Kitchener, in the House of Lords, said the Bill would enable us to regulate the flow of recruits and prevent fluctuation. The General Staffs would be aible to rely with greater certainty on the necessary drafts, anil thus the rank and file would be encouraged. It would also enable us to use unfit men for general home service and clerical work. WAR CREDITS. OVER TWO THOUSAND MILLION. DAILY AVERAGE HIGHER. ' LOANS TO THE ALLIES. London, Mav 23. To-day's £300,000,000 brings tlie total | for the eleven votes of credit to £2,382,000,000, ■ which is presumably sufficient to the end of July. In the House of Commons Mr. Asquith, in moving for a vote of credit for £300,000,000, said he had confidence in the financial position. In the interests of the country he was not attempting a review of the strategic situation. The expenditure for the past fifty days was £241,000,000, a higher daily average than at any similar consecutive period, die principal items were: Navy and munitions £149,000,000, loans to Allies and Dominions £74,500,000, and food supplies, railways, etc, £17,600,000. Eliminating items really belonging to 1915, the daily average was somewhat below £4,600,000. Mr. Asquith emphasised that one of the contributions we were gladly milking to the common cause was our financial assitance to our allies —(cheers) —without which it was literally true that the great combined operations could not be prosecuted with efficiency and siiwsa. The balance still held from the last vote would suffice until June 2, and the present vote till the first v.pck in August. He was convinced that provision for the prosecution of tlie war would be made readily and generously, with' the same confidence that the justice of our cause would bring a triumphant issue, as when previous votes were' passed. • CHURCHILL ON THE OUTLOOK. Mr. Churchill said it was unreasonable for people to expect the war to turn decisively and suddenly in our favor. The contending armies were far too evenly matched at present for tlip.t. We felt we were stronger and had a preponderance in men, but the enemy had a central position. We had large reserves, actual and potential. Mr. Asquith had said that the Empire's military strength was five million men. "Where were they?" he asked. "Certainly they were not in contact with the enemy.". Mr. Churchill computed that, fronting the British army in all theatres, there were only 900,000 Germans and Turks, of whom the infantry and artillery numbered half a million. If we had five million men it was evident, after every conceivable deduction had been made, that a large margin had not yet been usefully applied in the prosecution of the war. EVERY MAN WANTED. , Received May 24, 5.5 p m. London, May 23. • Mr. Churchill declared that the trench men were living continually under fire, and the non-trench population did not si.flf.-r, sind were enjoying good food and often better pay than the fighters. The share of decorations given to non-fight-ers was so disproportionate as to become a by-word. He urged the raising of an African negro army to be in readiness in 1917. Out of a population of 315,000,000 India had 100,000 men fighting. Continuing, Mr. Churchill said there was grim distinction at the front be--1 tween the trench and the non-trench population, yet the part of the army which really count*, for Hiding the war was the killing, fighting and suffering part. Every serviceable man should ' be" put in to lengthen and strengthen the fighting line. There were two hun- , dred thousand. officers in the army with , two hundred thousand servants and fifty thousand grooms, and this was an I army itself. It was possible to form infantry out of the great masses of ; cavalry, and there might have been J twelve new Indian divisions. The lira- , pile's man power should be used re- . morselessly. Mr. Churchill's speech deeply intcrest- [ ed the House. It is evident he 'has rei turned to politics greatly strengthened. . He sharply criticised the placing of the . armies in the East, especially at Saloi nika, where there were only Bulgara who did not want to fight. The rest of the speeches were not important, and the vote of credit was passed. THE AIR SERVICE. Lord Montagu moved to abolish the divided control of the air service. Lord Northcliffe, in his maiden speech, said it was certain an Air Control Board must develop from the Air Ministry. ' Unless the pilots now trained increased in numbers we would be hopelessly short in 1917. The debate was adjourned.. PRISONERS IN SWITZERLAND. 1 HAPPY CONDITIONS PREPARED. b ' Berne, May 23. * Most complete arrangements have ■ 'been made for the reception of the first n British prisoners from Germany who re- * quire exceptional treatment. They wil *-, annnm-addfttad two og thiee ia i

room and receive the Swiss soldiers' ■diet—coffee, bread, cheese, butter, jam, soup, meat, and vegetables. The allowance of bread with each meal exceeds the daily allnwance in Germany. The local British committees are supplying the men with underclothing, handkerchiefs, slippers and toilet requisites. A special committee of British ladies undertakes the washing and mending. Swiss Red Cross doctors are , selecting the men in German camps, A number of French and Belgian prisoners have alreday arrived. . ;„ ' THE ANZAC BOOK. AX 'INTERESTING SOUVENIR. Times and Sydney Sun Services. Received May 24, 5.45 p.m. London, May 23. Messrs Cassell are publishing at half-a-'dollar an Anzac Book, written and illustrated topical of Gallipoli by the Anzacs, for .the'benefit of the Australasian patriotic fniad*. A large edition was sold out before publication. The book comprises 170 pages. The cover design bears an' "Anaac," backed by the Union Jack and holding a bayonet, defying the enemy. The introduction, which is written by General Sir W. Birdwood, touchingly refers to the eight months spent on Gallipoli, where the men made many fast friends in all ranks, and will ever value that friendship. He adds: "My pen is incapable of describing to Australasians the courage and determination of their fellow-countrymen, who .fought and ga.ve . up their lives for their King and country's sake." The volume is interspersed with photographs and graphic pictures in color and line 'by Tedcolles, Crazier, Wimbush, Leyshon, White, Captain Bean, Roach and others. GERMANY. SCARCITY OF FOOD. BUTTER AND MEAT SHORT. HORSES AND DOGS EATEN. Times and Sydney Sun Services. London, May 23. The Schleswig-Holstcin journal Heimdal states that it has been impossible to obtain 'butter, lard, or meat in the large towns since Easter. Travelling street kitchens are now universal, Hamburg having 76 for feeding 150,000 people daily. Amsterdam, May 23. The latest, suggestion to cope with the scarcity of meat is to shoot rooks. ■' Gamekeepers declare that the cost of shooting would be prohibitive, and they could only be retailed at a mark apiece. According to the newspaper Vorwarts horse flesh is selling at two to three marks per pound. Berlin, May 23. Official: H'orr Batocke's new food board is called the War 'Feeding Office. Hen- Batockc is empowered to dispose of all foodstuffs, raw material, and fodder in Germany, also to regulate the sale, consumption, expropriation, importation, and exportation thereof. Geneva, May 23. An estimate states that Germany's oxen, which numbered twenty million before the war, are now only eight mil- , lien. A great number of horses and | dogs have been eaten. WHO MADE WAR? ' GERMAN CHANCELLOR'S STATEMENT. ■ Amsterdam, May 23. Herr von Bcthmann-Hollweg, in an i interview with Hon- von Wiegand, of , the New York World, replying to Sir ; E. Grey's interview, recalls Anglo-French statements that England and France ! would dictate terms of peace. He ex- - presses surprise that, regarding the • question of destroying Germany, Sir E. ; Grey still seeks to distinguish between • Prussia and the rest of Germany, and f this despite the heroic unity of the en- - tire people in defending their homes. He affirms that Britain, and not Gcr- ■ many, has prosecuted a policy of mili- ■ taris'm for twenty years in Egypt, at i Fashoda, in the Boer war, and at Alge- ' ciras, where, according to Sir E. Grey's ' admission, he promised France assist- - ance in the event of war, and both 1 General Staffs began to come to an 1 agreement. The German Chancellor adds that Ger--1 many averted war in the Bosnian crisis. ' Britain showed her displeasure to the 1 Russian Government, and Sir E, Grey ' declared that he believed British pulblic f opinion would have approved of war by ' Britain on Russia's side. Germany was ' about to settle the Agadir differences " with France when Mr. Lloyd George's speeches caused a danger of war. Replying to Sir E. Grey's statement " that Herr von Bethmann-HoUweg was ■ aware that Britain had never nourished e evil intentions against he ex- " claimed, "Einkeisungspolitik is the s policy of envelopment," adding that the documents in the Belgian archives show- " ed this even to neutrals, and statesmen 3 in Berlin, Paris, and London saw a great danger of war in stieh a policy. GENERAL VON KLUCK., .. e Times and Sydney Sun Services. '> London, May 23. 1 The Frankfurter Zeitung, referring to '• General von Kluck's seventieth birthday, says his principal claim to fame is that • he prevented the Marne retreat from becoming a German catastrophe. ENGLAND THE ENEMY. Received May 24, 11.30 p.m. Amsterdam, May 24. The German Liberal Party's Committee has passed a resolution urging a.. continuance of vigorous submarining unless England abandons the blockade. ladds: "It is daily clearer that Britain is Germany's audi-enemy." e