MOTHER COUNTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 November 1917, Page 5

MOTHER COUNTRY.

GUILDHALL SPEECHES. SUBMARINES WILL BE DEFEATED. DOMINION TROOPS PRAISED. ALLIED MILITARY STAFF. Am. and N.Z. Cable Amoc. and Reuter. Received Nov. 11, 11 p.m. London, Nov. It). •The Guildhall banquet, held on th* evening of lord Mayor's Day, was attended by '4OO guests, a feature being the modest proportion aa regards food*, Replying to the toast of the Imperial Forces, Sir Eric Geddes (First Lord o! the Admiralty) declared that on *ll questions of broad naval strategy thin was complete agreement between th» Admiralty and the commander* of the great navies afloat. Submarinism X&afi not defeated, but wag at present held it check, and would finally be defeated. Mr. Bonar Law prooeeded to pay a tribute to the Dominions' troops, whom Englishmen never grudged to praise, hut the Germans allege that we left oil the hard fighting to the dominion fortes. I None knew better than the msn from tno Dominions that nothing bad done had not been equalled by the deeds of their British comrades. Reviewing the general military situation, Mr. Bonar Law eiqphasised thai Germany had secured complete control of the armies of 'her allies. Such control had not existed and ooukl not oxist to the same extent among our allies, because we were a league of free peoples, but a step had just be«n takes Which would make their co-operatioa closer to-day than it had ever been. A*, allied military staff of Franco, Britain and Italy had been created, and it would sit permanently and study the military problems as a whole, and, as the resnlt of its creation, the whole front from *l** Channel to the Adriatic could, is th# future, be treated as one. •

THE ATTACK ON ITALY.

Mr. Bonar said, lie refused, ti I prophesy regarding Italy, but believe* [the Italians would be aW to hold th» enemy until aid came from the westenk allies. He thought the German attack on Italy was intended partly to divide the Allies and partly to keep up thfl spirits of the German people, but Germany could never win the war until die defeated the Franco-British armies in the West. i NO PROSPECT OP EARLY PEACKR He saw no prospect of an early peacs. It waft now a question of nerve and staying power. All the 'belligerents staggered beneath the load, and it was a question of w£o wM going to fall. He knew the hearts of our soldiers and sailors, and those of our allies, would not fail them. (Cheera.)

BLOCKADE QUESTIONS.

ANGLO-FRENCH-AMERICAN OONFEft. ENCB. , Aus. and N.Z. Cable 'Assoc. and Reufcef. Receded Nov. 11, 5.30 p.m'. London, Nov. 10. Official: Members of the American mission have conferred with Anglo*' French representatives on economic ques* tions connected with the blockade. There l is eVery prospect of complete agreement. A. further conference is pending.

TREATMENT OF NEW ZEALANDERS.

ALLEGATIONS REFUTED. Received Not. 11, 8.5 p.m. 1 London, Nov. 10. Sir Thomas Mackenzie reftrtes the letter published in New Zealand papers alleging that soldiers arriving in London are neglected. He states there are numerous organisations paring for soldiers, hotably 'New Zealanders, besides soldiers' clubs, canteens, theatres, and private hospitality. They arc invariably met on arrival and convoyed to quarters, and the utmost possible safeguards are taken by tlic health officials. Statistics show that 'New Zealanders are exceptionally free from contagious diseases, which are under two per cent.

THE .LORD MAYOR'S PAGEANT.

AN ELECTORAL MEASURE | Received Nov. 11, 5.5 p.m. London, Nov. ft I There was fine weather for the Lord Mayors pageant, which was one of th« | best on record, being entirely of a military character. Detachments of Australians and New Zealandors participated. The House of Commons adopted the Representation of People's Bill, tht schedule of which provides for a redis tribution of seats. All attempts to secure additional members were defeated BELGIAN SPY'S SENTENCE.. London, Nov. D. Official: A Belgian, court-martialled in London on a charge of coming to England for espionage, was sentenced to death but the sentence has been commuted to penal servitude for life.