MOTHER COUNTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 August 1916, Page 5

MOTHER COUNTRY.

DURATION OF THE WAR. LONG AND TEDIOUS STRUGGLE POSSIBLE. DUE PREPARATIONS MADE. GREAT VOLUNTEER RESERVES. LORD HALDANE CONSIDERS FINAL CHAPTER REACHED. Received August 2S, 7 p.m. j.ondon, August '27. 'Newspapers are dismissing the prolongation of tile war, and point out that all official indications, including Lord Kitchener's, urged ' preparations for a long and tedious struggle. The latest Ministerial announcements contain no 'more optimistic hints. Military preparations continue on the most vast scale, with no sign.s of diminution or stoppage.' Everywhere there are indications that the authorities are steadily increasing the supplies of men and munitions. The War Office has takei. over 247 volunteer battalions, thui, fleeing the men fit to go to the front, and invites all men physically fit and not engaged in war work to join the volunteers. It is also noteworthy that the military authorities are calling all classes for sedentary work. Nevertheless, there is a large volume oi betting at s'ltort prices predicting peace before June. Lord Haldane, speaking at Auchterarder, said we had had two anxious months, first when the German hosts were pouring through Belgium, and secondly when the Germans posses-set' overwhelming superiority in numbers at Ypres during October, 1914. Now, with the French magnificently resisting at Verdun and onr armies smashing the Germans, he recognised we had readied [the final chapter of the war.

BIG OFFENSIVE APPROACHING I SOLDIERS MAKING SHELLS. London, August 21. Mr. Lloyd Georgo, receiving a Labor deputation headed by Mr. 1. W. Bowerman, M.P., stated that, soldiers employed in civilian occupation received the usual civilian pay. Mr. S. Walsh, M.P., replied that such men should be withdrawn from military discipline. Nothing, -mid Mr. Lloyd George, would please the War Office better than to stop such transfers. The Adjutant-General wanted the men lor the army. He quoted a case when the big offensive was approaching which they knew was dependent almost entirely on the quantity of big shells produced. They were unable to get men to do the work, aiul were obliged to ask the assistant of the Adjutant-General, Who spared a thousand soldiers as an emergency measure. If lie had been told tliey would be regarded as civilians he was certain they would have been refused, because men were wanted for the army. It was merely sparing soldiers to fill shells for their comrades in France until other labor was found.

•Mr. J. O'Grady, M.P., thought these military working parties avoidable bv the better organisation of labor. Mr.. W. W. Forster, M.P., said the question was primarily one for the Minister of Munitions and the Board of Trade. Mr. 0. J. Wardle, M.P., said that all were willing to help in the better organisation of labor if it would enable them to dispense with military working parties. Mr. Lloyd George promised a special inquiry regarding men discharged from the army before they were fit »o undertake normal industrial work. In the course of his reply to the labor deputation, Mr. Lloyd George said: "Wo in no instance have supplied soldiers in case of labor disputes nor in any except cases of overwhelming military necessity." At the railwaymen's demonstration in Hyde 'Park, to protest against the increased cost of living, the speakers on five platforms vigorously denounced the piratical methods of the capitalists. The keynote of workers' attitude wis that there should be no industrial truce unless there was fairplay towards the workers. Resolutions were carried that trades union circles do not share the belief in an early peace, anil have a growing conviction, in view of the present output of material and munitions, also the preparations for eventualities, that the end is not yet in sight. A prominent member of the Labor Congress declared that the war would only end when the workers- had given their best. THE FISHING QUESTION. Amsterdam, August 27. Britain and Ymuiden shipowners have agreed that Britain shall purchase fish in the open market at Ymuiden, and when the prices exceed the maximum fixed by Britain fo; certain kinds of fish the' Dutch shipowners shall refund th; difference.