MOTHER COUNTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 April 1917, Page 5

MOTHER COUNTRY.

SERIOUS TIMES AHEAD. STILL MORE MEN NEEDED. GERMANY Stronger than Ever-£ GENERAL ROBERTSON GRAVE WARNING. Received April 5, 11.35 p.m. London, April 6. The Press Bureau reports: General fiir' Wiliiam Robertson, Chief of Stall, addressing a conference, including trade unionists, regarding the trade card scheme, admitted the War Office made mistakes like anyone else, but the country at the outbreak of war lacked national \var organisation. It was no use crying over spilt milk or blaming individuals. The whole nation was blameworthy. There were also mistakes "in military operations, but marvellously few considering the necessity to improvise armies. The Chief of Staff continued: "Let's treat disgruntled criticism with contempt, and put our shoulders to the wheel. Germany had a long start, and it is difficult to catch up, Germany was retreating from the Somme neither to fool us nor because she was defeated. The fact is she dare not stand up to further punishment in the old positions. No one retires in war voluntarily. is not yet beaten, She is retiring in order to become stronger. Geninanv is now numerically stronger than ever. She lias more divisions in < the field than in 1916. A million more soldiers enabled her to do this and over-1 ride international and human laws in Poland, Belgium, and elsewhere, and also by compulsory civilians' service. "We need men to pect this desperate effort. It is impossible to put a limit to the army's requirements of men. We need all that can be spared. Our immediate need iB half a "million before July; otherwise undoubtedly the war will be prolonged." General Robertson paid a tribute to the Empire's achievements and sacrifices hitherto, but appealed to everybody to put forth further efforts to make even greater sacrifices before it was too late, "in order," he concluded, "that with God's, help we can secure the freedom wherefor we arc compelled to fight." FOOD REGULATION. MENUS CUT DOWN. A', and N.Z. Cable Assoc. and Reuter. Received April 5, 0 p.m. London, April 4. The Press Bureau reports: Lord Devonport has isued a new public meals order, applicable to hotels, clubs, board-ing-houses and other public eating j places, declaring a meatless day in London on Tuesdays, and elsewhere on Wednesdays; no potatoes except on meatless days and Fridays. 'i.ae order fixes the following scale for four meals daily: Two ounces of bread and twosevenths of an ounce of sugar at each meal; meat, two ounces at breakfast and five ounces at each luncheon or dinner, with an allowance of two ounces of flour daily for pastries. The order does not apply to boarding-houses with under ten bedrooms. Eating-houses aro charging a maximum of lifteenpence per meal.

1 r " r • ' A PEACE ADVOCATE. ■ ME. BONAR LAW'S REPLY. Received April 5, 5,5 p.m. London, April 4. In the House of Commons Sir W. P. Byles suggested to Mr. Bonar Law that fie Government should save further bloodshed and suffering by accepting M. Czernin's (Austrian Premier's) proposal for a truce while peace is being discussed. Mr. Bonar Law said he was not aware of any terms having been offered. Sir W. P. Byles: "You could have peace to-morrow." Mr. Bonar Law: "Yes, if we surrender. The House ,of Lords passed the third reading of the Military Exemptions Bin. ' n. THE REPRISALS QUESTION. LABOR DEPUTATION TO RUSSIA. TO CONVEY CONGRATULATIONS. SAVINGS BY FOOD SUPERVISION. Received April 5, 5.5 p.m.

London, April t. In the House of Commons, Mr. Bonar Law Btated that the Government was not prepared to designate any German towns as hostage towns whicli could be destroyed as a reprisal for the French towns during the German retreat. A deputation of Labor members is going to Russia at the request of the Government to convey congratulations to their Russian comrades. The Government has received no communication from the new Russian Government to the effect that they are anxious to modify the demand for the expulsion of the Turks froui Europe, which is one condition of the Allies' terms of peace. Mr. Bpnnr Law added that the Government was anxious to take due notice of President. Wilson's epoch-making speech, but the matter must be discussed by Congress first. Lord Devonport (Food Controller) estimates that the new order as to food supervision will gave on the average 50 per cSnt. of meat, 53 of bread, and 63 of sugar. Ho would not say the situation was getting worse, but it was not frtUirovin#,