MOTHER COUNTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 December 1917, Page 5

MOTHER COUNTRY.

MR. LLOYD GEORGE. REVIEWS THE SITUATION. A STIRRING SPEECH. LORD LANSDOWNE'S POSITION. Received Dec. 16, 5.5 p.m. London, Dec. 15 Mr Lloyd George, speaking at a dinner to the heads of the air service, after emphasising the importance of the operations of the air services as a determining factor in. the war, referred to Lord Lansdowne's letter, stating that he now understood Lord Lansdowne did not intend in the least to convey the meaning his words might reasonably bear, and i only intended to say exactly the same thing as President Wilson said in a recent speech. The whole British nation fully agreed with that speech, and it must therefore be concluded that the interpretation placed on Lord Lansdowne's ; letter by our allies and enemies in no ■ way represented what Lord lansdowne intended. NO HALF-WAY HOUSE. Mr. Lloyd George referred to the very active minority of the ' people who thought, mistakenly; they had found a leader in Lord lansdowne. The danger was not teh extreme pacifist. Mr. Lloyd .George added: "I warn the nation to watch the man who thinks there is a halfway house between victory and defeat. No. uacli house exists. There are men who think you can end the war by some sort of what they call peace, [by-setting up a. league of nations with attendant conditions. That is the right policy after victory, but without victory it would be a farce to end a war entered npon in order to enforce a treaty, and without reparation for the infringement of that treaty (which was treated as a scrap of paper) merely by entering into a new and more sweeping and comprehensive treaty. It would be a farce in the setting of a tragedy." HALF FINISHED TASKS. There was nothing, said Mr. Lloyd George, so fatal to character as half finished tasks. He could "understand a man who had opposed the war from the start, but he could no't comprehend a man who had helped to commit the nation to a career of honor and now, before the task was nearly accomplished, wished to shake hands with the malefactor, and trade with him to mutual advantage. The enemy wis. simply to be invited to enter into a bargain to join with you in punching the head of the next man who dared to imitate his villainies. The enemy desired such peace terms that it was idle to talk security won by such feeble means. ', " THE ALTERNATIVES. "Let theTe bo no doubt," continued Mr. Lloyd George, "regarding the alternatives wherewith we are confronted. One is to make easy terms -with a triumphant outjaw, which means aliasing ourselves before lawlessness. It also means that ultimately the world would be intimidated by successful bandits. The other is to go through with the task of vindicating- justice, so as to establish a righteous and everlasting .peace for ourselves and our children. No nation with any regard to its self-respect and honor can hesitate a moment in the choice." Intensely as they realised that victory was an essential condition of a free world, there would not merely be no object in prolonging the war, but it would be infamous to do so if tliev thought things would get no better the longer they fought. It was because we are firmly_ convinced that, despite some untoward' events and discouraging appearances, wo are making steady progress towards our goal, that he'would regard peace ventures at present as a betrayal of the great trust wherewith he and his colleagues were charged. AN APT SHALE. The deadly grip of the navy was having its effect, and the valor of'our troops was making the impression of-a bridge which, when complete, would carry us to a new world) The river for the moment was in such a state that some of the scaffolding had been carried away, and much of the progress we had made seemed submerged and hidden. Some men would say: "Let us a'bandon the enterprise altogether; it is too costly; i.' is impracticable of achievement. Let ns rather build a pontoon bridge of now treaties and leagues of nations understandings.'- It might last some time, but would always be shaky and uncertain, whilst the first flood would sweep it away. "Let ue go along with our piledriving," he said, "and make a real, solid, permanent structure." THE THREE FOLLIES. Mr. Lloyd George referred to the added difficulties owing to Russia's threatened withdrawal, which would be a serious addition to our task that was already formidable enough, ft would be folly to under-rate the danger, and it was equal foil? to exaggerate, but the greatest folly of all was not to face it. He enlarged upon the entry of America into the struggle, pointing out that she was stepping into Russia's place. America, he said, wsb not yet prepared, but soon would hence the enemy's desperate efforts to force an issue before she- was ready; but the enemy will not succeed. SQUARING OUR SHOULDERS. The time of urgent need for greater effort and sacrifice is not the time to cower and falter, but to place our feet firmer than ever, square our shoulders and bear the increased weight, and he had never doubted that we would bear it all right to the end. It was absolutely necessary that we must further drains our mau-power in order to sustain until' the American army arvmses. There was no ground for panie, for aven after sending troops to Italy's assistance the Allies' had a marked numerical superi ority in France and Flanders. We had also considerate Teservcs at iionie. Much greater progress had been made in our man-power, especially in the last few months, than was realised, ibut it was necessary to increase our trained reserves in order to face our new contingencies without anxiety. Cabinet had prepared recommendations for Vaising more manpower, and was also investigating the best methods for husbanding the existing man-power. THE TONNAGE PROBLEM. The provision of men for the armies was not the most urgent part of the

problem, as men were especially needed to solve the problem of tonnage. Tho problem of victory was now a problem of tonnage, for nothing else could defeat us but the shortage of tonnage The advoiit of America, into the war had greatly increased The demand. Germany gambled on America's failure to transport her colossal numbers of men and aeroplanes to Europe, and had promised her own people and their allies that these formidable masses would never find their way into the battle line. THE FOOD PROBLEM. Mr. Lloyd George foreshadowed a further withdrawal of men from nonessential war trades and occupations in order to increase shipbuilding. He urged a further saving of tonnage not only°by economising consumption, but by increasing home production. We had, he said, increased home production by from two tc throe million tons this year, being tile only belligerent who had increased the food output during the war. It was essential that we should have another three million tons of food imports in il9lß, and he appealed to the agriculturists to assist the Government. DISCOURAGE GROUSERS. Another way to help was to discourage the grousers from grousing, as they undermined the morale, and national morale was vital; in the question of holding out. The peace propaganda was fed with grumblers. Let us, he said, beware of playing these propagandists' games. "We have," he added, "challenged a sinister power that is menacing the world and seeking its enslavement, and it would have been better never to have challenged it unless we meant to carry it through People who think they can begin a new era of peace while the' Prussian military power is unbeaten, are laboring under a strange delusion." AIR REPRISALS. STATEMENT BY THE MINISTER. Reuter Service. Received Dec. 16, 5.5 p.m. London, Dec. 15. Lord Rothermere (Minister for Air Service), following Mr. Lloyd George at the air service dinner, said the Air Board whole-heartedly favored reprisals, and, if the enemy elects, it shall be an eve for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. He"detested that doctrine as being grossly immoral, but wc were fighting for the lives of our women and children, and for whatever outrages were committed on our civilian population there would be meted out similar treatment on the German people THE FOOD PROBLEM. MOST ACUTE. Received Dec. 16,-5.5 p.m. London, Dec. 15. Sir Arthur Yapp (Director of Food, Economy), speaking in London, said the shipping and man-power problems were solvable, but the food problem was the most acute. Lord Rhondda announced that arrangements were complete for instant rationing when necessary. SUPPLIES OF RAW MATERIALS GERMANY TO COME,SECOND. Reuter Service. Received Dee. 10, 5.5 p.m. London, Dec. 15. In the House of Commons, Sir Edward Carson stated that during the period of reconstruction after the war, until the needs of ourselves and our allies are satisfied, Germany will not get an ounce of Imperial raw material. WAR PURCHASES. AN INTER-ALLIED COUNCIL. ITS OBJECT DEFINED. Received Dec. 16, 11.35 p.m. London, Dec. 18. Official: The Inter-Allied Council on war purchases has been finally established, and will sit alternately ill London and Paris. The primary object is the consideration of the needs of the Allies As to purchoses in the United States, the Council will indicate priorities, but tho final decision in relation thereto will be made at Washington. PORT OF LONDON CHARGES. London, Dec. 14. The Port of London Authority is asking the Government's permission to increase the addition to tariffs to 50 per cent., in order to raise the dock laborers' war bonus to IBs a week and make a proportionate increase in other employees' tvages. LORD LANSDOWNE'S LETTER. •London, Dec. 14. Lord Lansdowne, replying to a correspondent, declares he is ready to defend tho statements in his letter. He denies that he suggested an ignominious surrender, or desired to see the abandonment of our naval supremacy, or that he would be content with an hiternationil compact in which the only security Would be the word or signature of a German Minister. A GENEROUS GIFT. London, Dee. 14. : The Duchess of Norfolk has given Norfolk House for use as a club for the wives and relatives of overseas officers. There are a, thousand members already. The club will be opened on the 20th. STRTKE OF AEROPLANE WORKERS. London, Dec. 14. Three thousand aeroplane workers are «triking at Bristol for in=reased vages THE MEAT TRADE. London, Oec. 14. The meat trade is in a critical state. Butchers are keenly competing for cattle, which are insufficient in number. Vnt bullocks are realising £9O, vhich is £2O abovejipir value under the fixed prices U>f dead meat. Butchers threaten to }lo»c th'.'ir shops unless prices arc fixed for llvo stock.