MOTHER COUNTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 August 1916, Page 5

MOTHER COUNTRY.

THE END OF THE WAR. STILL IN THE DIM DISTANCE. WINSTON CHURCHILL'S PLEA FOR GREATER EFFORTS. LLOYD GEORGE OPTIMISTIC. Received August 23, 10.23 p.m. Loudon. August 23. In the House of Commons, speaking to ii motion on the adjournment of the House, Colonel Winston Churchill said, the situation was not warranted. There would he no speedy end of the war. The brilliant fighting at Somme and Verdun had inappi ?ciabl> changed the strategic alignment, of the Germans. Wi, were never more numerous and better equipped than to-day The diminution of the German reserves in relation to the Allies-' growing power and constitution should . secure a foundation on which to build a victorious conclusion. We should coldly and scientifically arrange the national life to meet the supreme effort and place our food supplies md prices on a war basis. The Government should chartei all shipping at Admiialty rates. The rise in freights was an absolu-te scandal. They should control the food distribution and issue, meat and bread tickets, which was preferable to regulating consumption by high prices. We must do our utmost to equip Russia, which was unable to develop the maximum strength to smash the Eastern front, and thus shorten the war by months. By spending fifty, even one hundred million ftorling, we would thus relieve our finances and vastly greater dangers. Mr. Lloyd George questioned the possibility of raising the military service age. He said it depended entirely on the exigencies of the war. He meant to win the war with all our country's resources; that was the only consideration dominant with the Government. The initiative had been wrested from the enemy on the whole battle front, east and west. Those who criticised the offensive failed to realise the extent of the achievements. Our concentration of great forces enabled u« to hold the Germans while Russia dealt with the enenty. It was a question of endurance. Our race ii» all parts of the globe wanted to secure a complete victory. Upon the questions of effort and endurance depended whether the war would end next year. He thought in the dim distance we were beginning to see the end. Britain and her Allies were marching and working together and were assured of victory. Germany lmd missed her chance—and knew it. ; DILUTION OF LABOR | i WORK PROCEEDING SATISFACj TCRILY, ! Received August 23. 9 p.m. i London, August 22. It is officially announced that the Clvde and Tvne Commission for the Dilution ol' Labor ha? been assumed by | oflicers of the Ministry for Munitions and the Admiralty. The dilution has already been estabi lished in I.V) of the largest of 30(1 controlled engineering and shipyard establishments on the Clyde. Fourteen thousand women .were introduced by the Commission, the majority of them being engaged on general engineering worn, excluding shells. The agreements for dilution also apply to the shipbuilding and ship-prepar-ing yards of -the Clyde and True. They have arranged with all the principal shipyard trades for the interchangeability of meirihers of different shipyard trades. The introduction of anskilled men and women is proceeding satisfactorily.

THE YORKSHIRE EXPLOSION. EXTENSIVE DAMAGF MUXITIONS WORKS DEMOLISHED. Received August 23, 9 p.m. London, August 22. 1 Official: The Yorkshire explosion originated outside one of the smaller magazines. The warning given was suflicient to enable the majority of the men and every woman to escape. The small magazine exploded, ami was followed at ihort intervals by others, until the largest exploded, causing the bulk ,of the damage. The munition works were, practically demolished, and other places near were burned.. A quantity of rolling-stock at the railway sidings was> destroyed. The bursting of a fire engine killed a number of firemen, Received August 23, 5.5 p.m. London, August 22. Dr. C. Addison stated that twenty bodies had been recovered from the Yorkshire explosion There was considerable destruction, but the casualties were lighter than anticipated. THE REGISTRATION BILL. Received August 23, A.15 p.m. , London, August 2'.'.. . Tlie House of Lords has amended the Parliamentary Registration Bill providing that in the event of a dissolution before the new registei is prepared, the Parliament so elected shall not ex'ist for more than two years. , A RUSSIAN ORDER. Received August 24, 12.40 a.m. London, August 23. Russia has ordered two million yards of cloth at West Riding for tlie army. The Government controls-, the scheme of supplies whereby all firms, with suitable machinery, must contribute a fai' share of the orders. i THE CONSULAR SERVICE. Renter Service. Received August 23, 5.5 p.m London, August 22, Lord Cecil lias announced that •Viscount Grey has directed that no naturalised foreigner or son thereof should be appointed to the foreign diplomatic consular services until approved of hv. ViM&uut Gray,