MOTHER COUNTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 October 1917, Page 5

MOTHER COUNTRY.

j AIR RAID DISCUSSED, [STATEMENT BY MR. BONAR LAW, T London, Oct. 23. In the House of Commons critics of the London air defences moved the adjournment in order to discuss Friday's raid. t '

Mr. Chamberlain and Admiral Sir <H Meux advised the House to make short work of the motion. ■air. Bonar Law said that he- refused to help Germany by giving particulars of our methods of defending London, Of eleven Zeppelins only one came over London. The view of the air services was that the mist did not save London but saved the Zeppelin. ' If the Germans ever smiled at our way of conducting the war they would have a happy time over the British House of Commons stopping business to make this fuss over the greatest air defeat Germany had ever suffered. Two raids upon German towns with large populations had already taken place. This was what happened owing to the pressure of one or Wo members of the House of Commons and the pressure of the newspapers to find out what we were g.ing to do. It was a fact that the Germans, who know the only quarter whence the raids could take place, had sent flying squadrons to await our flyers; then they were ready to receive our men. The motion was withdrawn. The Daily Express comments that if the bombing of a town fortv iniles over the border is what the Government mean by bombing German towns it is not what the public means. The statement creates widespread astonishment as our continued lack of action is causing widespread discontent. AMERICA ONLY AT WAR WITH | GERMANY. Received Oct. 24, 8.30 p.m. London, Oct. 23. Sir E. Geddes, replying to a question in th»> House of Commons, stated that the United States was not at war with Austria, Turkey, or Bulgaria, and no j rupture had taken place with Bulgaria. FREIGHT RATES TO NEW ZEALAND. Times Service. Received Oct. 24, 9.30 p.m. London, Oct. 23. In the House of Commons Sir Chiozza Money, replying to a question, said the increase in freight rates to New Zealand was due to an increase in the war risk insurance and the running expenses, which were not included in the Blue Book rates.

"OUR DAY" COLLECTIONS. London, Oct. 23. 'Our Day" totals reached a million sterling irrespective of street collections.