MOTHER COUNTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 October 1917, Page 5

MOTHER COUNTRY.

BRITAIN WILL STAND BY FRANCE. PROLONGING THE WAR.

MR. ASQUITH OX GERMAN METHODS;

Australian Cable Association,

Received Oct. 12, 7.50 p.m.

London, Oct. 11. Mr. Lloyd George, replying to a deputation, said he could not think any statement was more calculated to prolong the war than that of Herr Kuhltnann regarding Alsace-Lorraine. However long the struggle lasted, Britain intended to stand by France until she had redeemed her oppressed children from the degradation of the foreign yoke. Mr. Asquith, speaking at Liverpool, stated that the dominant factor we have to deal with is not German public opinion or Parliament, but the German Government. The world would never find its way to peace through a morass of equivocation and ambiguities. Plain questions had been asked, but studiously evaded. It had never been our policy to annihilate or mutilate Germany, UTILISING NEUTRAL SHIPS. PERU THANKED. A GENERAL'S REVIEW OP THE WAR. Reuter Service. NEUTRAL SHIPS IN BRITISH PORTS. Received Oct. 12, 8.15 p.m. London, Oct. \'c. (Britain has decided to requisition neutral registered ships in British ports, owing to the German prize court deciding that such vessels must be regarded as British. Compensation will be given. Received Oct. 12, 7.50 p.m. London, Oct. 11. Tho Government has decided to utilise, partly or wholly, British-owned ships registered under neutral flags, and now lying at British porta. Peru has offered the hospitality of its harbors to British ships, and thanks have been expressed for the offer, which is regarded as a mark of sympathy for Britain and her Allies.

General Maurice, reviewing the situation, says that we have every reason to be pleased with the latest advance. He describes Colonel Moraht's statement, that since September 20 the British have lost half a million men, as grotesque, for not that number of men have been engaged in this series of battles. Since January, our casualties in all theatres have not exceeded half a million. The submarines have not delayed our plans in France by one (hour, nor kept back a jingle round of ammunition. The British are better fed and more liberally supplied and equipped than they ever were before. The importation of war materials into Prance, which formerly was eleven tons hourly, had risen to twentyfour tons in the last week of September. The railway and canal facilities for transporting supplies have enormously | improved.

THE FOOD PROBLEM.

AN APPEAL TO FARMERS. London, Oct; 11. Mr. Lloyd George, receiving the agricultural representatives appealed to the farmers to increase enormously the food supplies, not because he waß afraid of the submarine menace was rapidly diminishing, but because the world's stock of food was the smallest for years. The diminution of the 'French ancf Italian cereal iproduetion had thrown France and Italy on to the markets of the world. He deprecated as unfair the abuse of the farmer, which v:?.z to ignorance of the precariousness of his business. Ha was convinced that the majority of people were grateful to the farmers for the achievement of last spring in adding 700,000 acres of cultivation in England alone. He asked farmers now to improve on that achievement. We did not want to go to the American market to snatch food from the mouths of our Allies.

N.Z. AVIATOR'S REWARD. London, Oct. 11. The Military Cross has been awarded to Lieutenant W. W. Cock.- of the New Zealand forces and the Plying Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and skill in attacking a Zeppelin. He ascended in a j. strong wind, with thick mist and low clouds, but eventually gave up the attack when sixty miles out at sec. The •return journey was hazardous, but lie safely landed after 5J hours in the air.