MOTHER COUNTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 December 1917, Page 5

MOTHER COUNTRY.

PREMIER'S WAR REVIEW. EFFECT OF RUSSIAN COLLAPSE. THE PRESTIGE OF CAPTURE OF JEIU'SALEYI. London, Dec 21. Mr. Lloyd George, in his sjvo.-h royavUiii;i the naval aid military situation, said it would ho idle to protend 'hut i our liopi'b at the bi.';;iiiniiiy of tin.- year! !.;.<'; bu-u roaii-ed. ' ' \ Tho dl-api-oioi.inciii: was attributable! entirely dj the i:us:,;.-in collapse. At the I beginning of I ho year Jim Uussiau .•U'lviy I \v:\: ''(•!'(';■ equipped with gluts, machineguns, aeroplanes, and ammunition than ■".'or before. Nevertheless, the Germans had not even hold their own or. the west front, ami, if t.h Russians had fulfil'rel expectations, tho pride of flio Prus-hm military power would have boon complefely humbled. The Allied Miec-esses in L>l7 and tlio capture of I'-agdad and surrender of Joriisaicii! Would IHIVO ;l permanent I'iVoi't on tho wr.v'ld's history. The capture of Jerusalem, which would never be restored to tho Tuvk, had, rightly or >vroi:gly. added morn lo 1 he prestige of British arms than any event in the war. GEnMANY'S SOLITARY SUCCESS. Some people said these were only sideshows. The HritLli Empire owed a good deal to sine-shows. Despite liie faet that the Germans \vo;-> ah to to use the East front as a rest enre 'or broken regiments, they had had only one success, which was due to a surprise, which was now the subject of inquiry. The Germans lost thousands of prisoner*, hundreds .of guns, and valuable ground. De-piju; our very conspicuous victories in Fl-nfder.-s and France, the campaign had, on the whole, no; achieved our expectations. One swat event, of the year was the advent of America into world policies. AT LEAGUE OF NATIONS. Another memorable event was the creation of an ■lnternational Council at Versailles, thus setting up for the first lime the machinery of a League of Nations. The Council would have a greater effect on international relations than anyone now imagined. So far, it bad been a conspicuous success. It was itself free from friction and had helped to remove friction. VALUE OF AID TO ITALY. Undoubtedly flic'siination had become more menacing owing lo the unexpected defeat of Italy, and secondly lo the Russian armistice. The Anglo-French forces were sent to Italy's rescue with a celerity which greatly surprised- the enemy. If our troops had not arrived with such remarkable rapidity ona could not have guaranteed what would have happened. Their advent not. onlv tsrciig-thened Italy's armies, hut helped Italy's mor.iie to such a degree that troops scattered in northern Italy volunteered to return to the ranks. A TRIUMPH OF ORGANISATION. The Anglo-French assistance was a triumph of organisation. The Italian situation was now largely restored, but the defeat made the military position more anxious for the Anglo-French 'direction by making a drain upon their •nan-power. THE RUSSIAN ARMISTICE.' Russia bad been quiescent during the past few months, but nominally she was at war and keeping considerable Austroj German forces on the East front.' The armistice altered the situation. Although it was true the armistice imposed upon Germany the obligation not to remove troops, we had heard of '-scraps of paper.'' and the eountry now relying on the Germans keeping that obligation'was a country which hail not, profited by experience. The>o facts cast fresh oblisations on the other Allies. GREATER SACRIFICES NEEDED. It was absolutely necessary for Britain to make greater sacrifices to strengthen the army in the coming year. With a view of ineroasiii? the supply of men for the army it was necessary to ask ti„. trade unions to consent to the alteration of pledges tfiven, owing lo changed condition:, putting a greater demand on the nation's man-power. This step was unavoidable, because they must draw upon the reserve man-power' rather than send back to \he front men badly wounded, which would be unfair and intolerable while, men stayed at home who had never gene to light. The Government also wanted to meet the needs o! .shipbuilding and Agriculture. Sir A. Geddos would next week explain the position to trades unions, and the Government, immediately after the adjournment, proposed to ask for the powers to raise fee men renuired. The next few months would he the most trying 0 f the war. because one great Power bad "radically gone out. and another great Power was not fully in. GERMANY'S LOSSES. Our burden would be great, hut we must not imagine that the enemy has no difficulties. The physical quality of German workers had. so deteriorated'that their output was 33 per cent, iess than tbat of 193-1. and Germany was using up her reserve manpower. In France she had lost heavily. Her Italian losses were not comparable with those of Austria, while the British losses were only a quarter or a fifth of Germany's permanent losses. The Allied reserve power was more than double the reserve of aU their enemies. Time and tonnage only were required, and the enemy kne°w WAR. AIMS REITERATED, Mr. Lloyd George proceeded that a great deal had been made of the complaint that the Government had not fully stated its war aims. He would repeat the points of his Glasgow speech and ask the critics if thev challenge any of them. Kirst, complete restoration of the territories' Germany had conquered, with reparation for damage. If Russia decided to enter into separate negotiations she must look after her own territories. Her action also disposed of Hie question of Constantinople. Second, the question of Mesopotamia must be left to tlic Peace Congress, provided that Mesopotamia and Armenia shall never again ho subjected to the flighting and Wasting influence of the Turks. . THE GERMAN COLONIES. Third, a great international peace congress must settle the question of the -German colonies, having regard to the vnsies and interests of their inhabitants

already laid down, that the congress must settle all these questions upon the principle of respecting the desires and sentiments of Hie ipeoplo themselves. Whether the colonists desire their former masters or to oelrii-t llicm-adves to others, the wishes of the people themselves must be the dominant factor ill settling their future government. We conquered no country wherein the population belong to the ruling race. TONNAGE AND CULTIVATION. A QUESTION' OF ViCTORY OR DEFEAT, ST!RUING SPEECH BY MK. I,'.',L)YD GEORGE. Received Dee. 23, 5.5 p.m. London, Dec, 22. Mr. Lloyd George, addressing the chairmen of agricultural committees, said the struggle is now largely one of tonnage. Nothing else can beat us, and nothing else can win for us. The question oi building, s'liips and saving ships is a question of victory or defeat., Y/e have never,made the best use ol agriculture, but the war is teaching the lesson that we must drop the theories and preconceptions which arc interfering; with complete cultivation, and must begin now by increasing cultivation. '''We want to get three million acres cultivated," he said, "and you have got the next hundred days in which to do the whole task wherein we can increase enolniousjy the area under cultivation and increase enormously the shipping lit our disposal in order to bring' troops, guns, and munitions wherewith to defeat our cruel enemy. The cultivation of two million acres means the feeding of three million people.'' Referring to labor difficulties, Mr. Lloyd George laid the Government had decided lo facilitate the use of prisoners of war on the land. He hoped to provide, thirty thou'-.md unskilled laborers, including; a small proportion of women, also L"00 horses, and ho hoped that the 2000 tractors already sunpliou to country committees would he doiibled before the middle of February and redoubled by the middle of March. Mr. Lloyd George appealed to the country committees" to urge farmers to encourage the cultivation of allotments, which last year saved scores of thousands, possibly 'Hundreds of thousands, of tons. Ho asked the country committees to be ruthless and relentless with farmers refusing to increase cultivation. THE FOOD PROBLEM. ARRANGEMENTS FOP. ABOLISHING QUEUES, COMMITTEES GIVEN WIDE POWERS. Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assoc, and Renter. Received Dec. 23, 5.5 p.m. London, Dec, 21, The Press Bureau states that with the object of abolishing food queues. Lord Rhondda has empowered local committees to control the supplies of margarine, and to arrange for its equitable distribution between the shops in their district. He has also empowered the committees to requisition' and transfer to other shops in their districts any excess supply which any shop holds beyond its accommodation and capacity for selling. A further order will be issued, conferring wider powers on the committees in order to prevent queues, probably forbidding retailers to sell butter, margarine, or other foodstuffs except to customers registered with theii.

MAN-POWER PROPOSALS. REDUCTION OF AGE LIMIT. United Service. Received Doc,. 23, 5.5 p.m. London, Dec. 21. The Evening Standard states that, according to a high authority, the Government's man-power proposals include the reduction of the age to 18, and to compel the service of all between the ages of !8 and 24. They do not raise the maximum age and do not include Ireland, THE CAMBRAI WITHDRAWAL. SIR DOUGLAS HAIG'S ACTION QUESTIONED. Received Dec. 22, 5.5 p.m. London, Dec. 21. In the ITouso of Commons. Mr, J. C. Wedgwood declared that the House had the right to consider three points with reference to Sir Douglas llaig, namely: (!) Was he over optimistic? (2) As a cavalry officer did be believe it possible to use cavalry to breakthrough '; (3) When a large army has not fulfilled expectations, was not the best way to restore morale to have a change iii the head? Mr. J. L. MaePherson (Parliamentary Secretary to the War Office) promised to bring the points to thk attention of the highest authorities. THE MONS, MARNE. AND YPRES FIGHTERS. WIDOWS AND ORPHANS ENTERTATNF,D. Reecived Dec. 23, 5.5 p.m. London, Dec. 22, Mr. Douglas McLean, a Now Zealaiuß-r, entertained the widows and orphans of the Mons, Marne, and Ypres fighters at, the Ilotborn Restaurant. Sir Thomas Mackenzie and General Richardson were present. GOVERNMENT!' CONTROL 0?? TIN. Aus. and N.Z. CaWe Assoc, and Keuter. Received iDee. 23, 5.5 p.m. London, Dec. 22. Tiie Ministry of Munitions is takingcontrol of tin, as a metal required for ■war purposes.