MOTHER COUNTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 January 1917, Page 5

MOTHER COUNTRY.

WAR POSITION REVIEWED. MOST STRENUOUS PREPARATION. • » ON ALL MAIN FRONTS London, Jan. IC. The Tinics slates that the resumption of the offensive o'n the main fronts is imminent. The 'Germans attacked at Verdun too soon last year, but that risk will be run. Every man will he at the front in ]f)l7, because the belligerents cannot wait, as all are feeling an incnasingly severe strain.

Renter states that according.to Petrograd reports prisoners state that General von Mackensen's troops are fatigued and ravaged by sickness and privations. The lull in all the theatres is more apparent than real. The most strenuous preparations are proceeding on all the main fronts for the resumption of fighting on a grand scale at the earliest possible moment.

Exports point out that tiie. enemy may soon need all his resources for the YVe§t. A quick and powerful counter-offensive, before the enemy has time to dig, may still transform the whole Roumanian campaign. UNIVERSAL NATIONAL SERVICE. ' j London, Jan. 18. i Mr. Neville Chamberlain has completed a draft scheme for universal national service, and the Cabinet will consider it immediately. A National Bureau will be opened forthwith. Mr. Chamberlain is compiling a register showing tho number of men available, which will facilitate their distribution.

THE FOOD PROBLEM. A COMPARISON OP PRICE 3. Received Jan. 17, C.45 p.m. ■London, Jan. l(i. There is an increasing agitation in England against the fixed price of potatoes, .which, growers state, arc unprofitable to plant.

Mr. P. Alden, M.P. for Tottenham, has been appointed to organise the puDlic and private effort of land cultivation. The Board of Trade figures show that the retail prices on Ja .nary 1 were 87 per cent, over pre-war prices, as compared with Germany's 111 per cent., and Austria's 177 pei cent., Norway's S2 per cent. The principal English increases concern potatoes, fish, flour, butter, and cheese. INCREASED CULTIVATED AREA.. Received Jan. 17, 9.15 p.m. London, Jan. IG. The Board of Agriculture reports an increase of 20,1)84 acres in the land cultivated in England and Wales during 191(1 as compared with 1015. The wheat area has declined 12 per cent., barley has increased B'per cent, potatoes have declined by 35,451 acres, or 10% per cent.