MOTHER COUNTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 May 1917, Page 5

MOTHER COUNTRY.

DAILY COST OF THE WAR. NEARLY: 7% MILLIONS. BRITISH,SUPERIORITY OVER THE ENEMY. I: ■ . t HYSTERICAL GERMAN COM- ' ,; ' Received May io, 5.5 p . m . ~ London, May 9. Mr Bonar law, in introducing the vote of credit for five hundred millions, said the expenditure had recently exceeded the estimate. The daily expenditure at present <ma £7,506,000, whereof two millions' went to the Allies and Dominions, thus exceeding the 'Budget estimates for such advances by a million daily, but he hoped the Budget estimate would still fee realisable owing to the promptitude of Asnericain .financial as- 1 eistanoe. Received May 10, 6,30 p.m. • . '.'•*/''! Reuter Service. London, May 9. In the Houpse of Commons, Mr Bonar Law stated that the Rochdalo strikers ; had returned to work. He .admitted that [there was still a considerable amount of unrest among certain sections of the engineering trade. The Government was satisfied that - the trouble''was mainly due to the activities of a number of men desiring to upset the authority of! the trade unions. The great majority of striken were not aware why they were striding. Any action against those responsible for interference with the output of munitions was so urgently needed that it'must.'be taken without delay. Mr Bonar 'Law, dealing with the Mesopotamian success, said no small part of the credit was due to the work of the General Staff at Home, which made the arrangements. A .part of the credit was also due to the splendid court age and ardor of the troops, but much of the credit was due to General Maude, who had shown military ability, of the highest order. Reverting to the operations on the West front, he sftid it was inevitable that progress should be slow. One of the most encouraging features of the battle, however, was t|e almost hystor r ical German communiques about imaginary victories in order to keep up the courage of the people. The desire of the enemy, was a feeling of necessity on his part to prevent our advance. This was shown by the extreme violence of his counter-attacks, one whereof yesternight resulted in our losing a position we had taken, but, Regrettable as that was, it was only an incident in the kind of fighting now going on. When we consider the original enemy artillery superiority, and how absolutely destitute we were of munitions, we had a right to feel proud of oiir present distinct superiority over the enemy.in these respects. That superiority wa« alao,'shown in our airmen, who were the eyes of our longrange guns.

Received May 10, 10.15 p.m. London, May 10.

In the House of Commons, Mr ißonar Law, referring to the West front, said the rapidity of our attack forestalled the enemy, who had to fl'ght in the open,, With heavy losses, Before trenches which they had not time to prepare. Since the Erst -of April we had taken 20,000 prisoners, 267 guns, and 227 trench mortars. While in the first 24 days of the Somme offensive we advanced 3*/ 2 mites on a six-mile front, we had now advanced 25 miles on a 20-mile front. There were twice as many German divisions against us as at the Sorame, and half of them had to he withdrawn. Our casualties in the present offensive were from 50 to 75 per cent, less than at the Somme. Our Bucoess was largely due to our distinct artillery superiority. "If," said Mr Bonar Law, "we wish to realise how much has been, done on the Western front, let us picture our (feelings if in the same period as the battle of Arras -wo had lost 20,000 prisoners and the number of guns that the Germans had lost."

Explaining the apparent increase in the cost of the war, Mr Bonar Law said there was a sum of thirty millions sterling during the period under review Which could not be regarded as real expenditure. The expenses of the Dominions' Governments were paid here, and reimbursed by the Dominions' Governments. In April we paid out, but did not receive. There, was,, therefore, no reason to suppose the Budget estimates of expenditure for the year would not, approximately, be correct.

ENTRY OF FOODSTUFFS. ADMIRALTY'S HELP LIMITED. EVERYTB3XG POSSIBLE DONE. ''" \ Reuter Service. ; London, May 9. House of Commons, Dr MacN#nia;ra (Parliamentary Secretary to the' Admiralty) stated that since Janu-'arjri-15 British ships had been reported 'overdue. The Admiralty is taking all possible steps to accelerate the entry of .foodstuffs, but the Admiralty resources I'did not permit of providing an escort for every ship;, though everything possible was being done to safeguard merchantmen. Arrangements could not be discussed publicly without giving the enemy most valuable information. There was no reason to believe that submarines had learned the routes laid'down for merchantmen.

THE WORKERS' EFFORTS. APPRECIATED BY THE ARMY. •A. & N.Z. Cable Association and Reuter. Received May 10, 0.30 p.m. London, Miay 9. The Press Bureau states that Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig has written •to the Minister of Munitions expressing the army's appreciation of the workers' efforts as shown in the supply of guns, rifles, ammunition, aircraft, and tanks during the recent operations. He says he can rely on the workers to ensure that the army will lack nothing in the future, and that the reduteion in the number of prematurely exploding cartridges proves that their manufacture, filling, and inspection have reached a «Un4Md» '

A COCK-AND-BULL STORY. ACCUSATIONS AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT. Received May 11," 1.10 a.m. London, May 10. In tlie House of Commons, Mr Dillon complained that the country was not being told the whole truth regarding the operations in Syria and Salonika. The .position in Greece '\vas gojng from bad to worse The Temps newspaper hid accused the Bi'.tish Government of standing behind King Constaniine and preventing adequate support being given Venlzelos. ,' Mr.Bonar Law said Mr Dillon's statement that we had bullied Roumania into the war at the instigation of pro-German Russia was a cock and bull story. He did not think any intelligent man would have repeatedf-such an utterly unfounded statement. Regarding Constantine, it was equally untrue. The Allies could not add to the number of their enemies ■by using troops ,tq effect a revolution, l in Greece and put Venizelos in command.

SERVICES TO THE EMPIRE. MR MASSEY HONORED. Received May 10, 10 p.m. London, May 9. . Tie. British Empire Producers' Asso- i ciatipn presented Mr Masacy with a. silver salver in recognition of his services to Empire development. Mr Massey, in reply, said lie lad no desire for recognition. He had worfced for the unity of the Empire whereto all belonged. Germany,. after the imaij would fight to regain all the trade lost, [while neutrals would fight to keep all they had obtained. It was necessary to use all our own enterprise to meet tha riew conditions. AFTER THE WAR. ECONOMIC CONDITIONS. Received May 10, fl p.m. London, May 9. Mr Lloyd George's speech to the. Labor Party's deputation is now published. He stated the war afforded an unrivalled opportunity to reconstruct the economic conditions. "The whole of society is in a molten state. You can stamp upon it almost anything you like, provided you act firmly and determinedly. There is no time to lose. The country l will be prepared for (better things immediately after- the war than when the normal clash of selfish interest is resumed. Unless the opportunity is seized it may pass. I believe after the war settlement will succeed in proportion to its audacity. If every class insists on not returning to pre-war methods you will get really a new world." NO STARCHED GARMENTS. (Received May 10, 8 p.m. London, May 9. Hon. A. B. Bathurst, speaking in thfe House of Commons!, said it had been decided to restrict the use of starch, unless under license. This would affect the wearing of starched garments.

PRICE OF MEAL. 'London, May 8. The Press Bureau states that Lord Dovonport has fixed the maximum retail price for maize, flour and maize meal at 4d per lb., and oatmeal, rolled oats, and flaked oats at 6%d. ALLEGED FRAUD. Received May 10, 10 pjn. London, May 9. Gruban is sunig Mr Handel Booth, a member of the House of Commons, for damages for depriving him of his business connection with Haigh, Gruban & Co., of Oldhnmi, whereof- plaintiff is chairman. , The latter's counsel stated that plaintiff ,was of German 'birth, but naturalised after the war. Mr Booth acquired his client's financial interest in the business without cost and by deliberate fraud, threatening him with internment and, deprivation of property unless he handed it over to defendant. The defence denies all allegations.