MOTHER COUNTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 January 1918, Page 5

MOTHER COUNTRY.

MAN-POWER BILL j l STIRRING SPEECH BY LLOYD GEORGE. 1 TO TRADE UNIONISTS. ALTERNATIVE TO PROPOSALS. RAISING AGE LIMIT. Aus. and X.Z. Cable Asosc. and Reuter. Received Jan. 20, 5.5 p.m. London, Jan, 19. Mr. Ltoyd George, addressing the representatives of the trades unions affected by the Man Power Bill, paid a tribute to the manner wherein they met the Government, anrl the spirit of complete frankness which characterised the atti-' tude of both sides, resulting in the 1 clearing of misunderstanding. The Premier reiterated that the alternatives to the proposals were the raising of the age limit, as in Austria, where it is 55, or sending back the wounded men. It would be folly to withdraw men from industry sooner than was necessary, but It would be treason to the country, to democracy, and to tile cause of freedom if, when the need arose, we did not make the deraahd. TERMS NEED POWER TO ENFORCE. "I assume," said the Premier, "that in your hearts you believe the war aims declared by the great labor conference represent the minimum which is possibly acceptable, but if we are unable to defeat the German forces, if we are unable to resist the military power of Prussia, is there a man here who believed that one of ,your terms, even the least of them, could be enforced ? I am not takings the demands of the Imperialistsdemands of the extreme war men, who want to annex the earth and all the heavenly firmament. I am talking of the moderate demands of the most pacifist soul in this assembly. Go to von Hindenburg with them and try to cash that cheque at the Hindenburg bank! It would be returned dishonored. Whatever terms were submitted by any pacifist in these lands, you will not get them qpshed by Ludendorfl", or the Kaiser, or any of these niagnates unless you have got the power to enforce them." GERMANY'S ONLY RESPONSE. Mr. Lloyd George went on to aay that he and President Wilson, without previous consultation, hud laid down what was substantially I' > same programme of demands for t',.< .crmination of the war, but there had been 110 response from any man in any position in Germany indicating that the rulers of Germany desired to approach the problem in a spirit of equity. We demanded the restoration of Belgium. Would any of his hearers make pence without the complete restoration of Belgium and reparation for its wrongs? (,Shouts of "No!"). Germany's only answer to that demand came from the soul of von Tirpitz, who replied: "Never!" We had demanded the reconsideration of the wrong of Alsace-! Lorraine, ■ but Germany answered "Never!" ALLIES ACCLAIM BRITISH TERMS. "Our programme," continued the Premier, "has been acclaimed throughout the Allied countries, and criticism has hardly been heard of, except from a few who wished Lloyd George had made more extreme demands. The Socialists of France, Britain, and Italy had mainly accepted the demands as being very fair." WHAT GERMANY SAYS. Mr. Lloyd George emphasised that he would not have the war for a second oil his soul if he could stop it honorably F"' urged .those especially who thought v.e were responsible for the perpetuation of the horrors of war to consider the reception of our demands by Germany, where the only comment had been: "Behold how England is weakening. Go on and they will come down." Again, when he suggested that Mesopotamia and Palestine should never be restored to the tyranny of the Turk, Germany answered: "We will go on until they are restored." PRUSSIAN MILITARISM DOMINANT. The Premier emphasised that not a single condition contained in the British trade union war aims had met with any authoritative response from Germany ' Jt was very significant that there had been n 0 civilian answer from Germany |»t all. Hindenburg and Ludendorfl' had been hurriedly summoned to confer at oerlm, but Baron von Kuhlmann was not allowed to speak. That meant that Prussian military power was dominant ,0 ' l crman . v ' 3 _ answer to civilisation would be given from the cannon's nwuth. HARBOR NO DELUSIONS, It would be a mistake, asserted the! iremier, to harbor any delusions. "Let us talk quite freely among ourselves Yon might a s well stop fighting unless you are going to do it with all your might. It is real murder for the gailant ve«r St °° d tlle, P for thrw i SHALL RUSSIA'S EXAMPLE PREVAIL? ' "There is no alternative. Yon have either got to put your whole strength into ,t, or just do what is done in the Russian army, and tell these brave fellows they can go home whenever they rt ™ crp ' are men who sav the'v will not go into the trenches,' then the men m the trenches have the right to say: 'Neither will we remain here.' That would be the pd of the war. But what sort of an etui? The Russian soldiers ceased fighting and fraternised. They simply talked of great ideals to the German nrmv. But the Germans did not retreat; thpy took Riga and the islands Fraternisation did not prevent tlie Germans from marching forward. Tf Petrograd had been nearer they would have had thafc too ; and unless we are prepared to stand up to the whole might of the people dominating Germany vou will find the democracy of Euroiie' at the mercy of the most cruel military autocracy the world has ever seen. AN ANSWER TO HUf-DENBtfRG. "If you sent Hindenburg peace delegations, he would just mode at vonr reoncst tint he should evacuate Belgium. He would say in his heart: 'You cannot .turn me out o£ Belgium with trade union

resolutions." Tin: :ni-v,v you i:nn 'jive him is: 'We can and will turn you out of Ilelgiuni with trade iiuion guns and trade unionists behind the::'.." GO OX OK GO UNDER. '"lf any man standing in my place can iiiirt aii Jionorablu, equitable way out of this conllicfc without, lighting it through, •'or heaven's sake let iiiui tell me! .My own conviction is that the people uni-t either ;:o on or 30 under '" MAN POWER HILL CiRUIED. London, .Tan. ].B. Oflieial. —At a secret session, after discussion, Lhe Prime Minister spoke on the ™court reading of the Man Power Bill, which was then carried without division. The Bill was committed to a committee of the whole House

ALARMIST STATEMENTS. IN HOUSE OF COMMONS. A SECRET SESSION, Received Jan. 20, 5.5 p.m. London, Jan. 13. The secret session arose with dramatic suddenness as the result of Mr. J. M. Hogge, member for Edinburgh East, stating that he had learnt certain facts at a private conference, showing that the proposed 450,000 men were inadequate to mcc£ the military situation. Mr. Hogge said: "The Government has not given an adequate statement regarding the war.' T know facts, though I cannot state them, and if the conditions of the war ate as stated, the man power proposals are absurd, being a mere fleabite, and will not meet the situation. It is fooling the House and the public to suggest that this man-power proposal is going to bring them nearer victory. Let the War Minister tell tflie House about America, what help America can give and when she can give it. Let him tell how England is being bled of men, materials and money in order to maintain her position in tile war, which in the autumn may find us no nearer victory."

In reply to cries of dissent and inquiry. Mr Hogge said: "I do not mean to say that the Germans can break the line." The secret session followed.

FOOD DISTRIBUTION TROUBLES. COMPULSORY RATIONING NECESSARY. Received Jan. 19, 5.5 p.m. London, .Jan. 18. Food distribution is giving rise to much public discontent, particularly Jtt Manchester, where 100.000 engineers decided to stop work 011 Saturday week, march to the town hall, and protest against the unequal distribution. Minor disorders occurred in London, women 111 the margarine queues demanding supplies.. Everything points to the immediate neecssity of compulsory rationing.

THE YARMOUTH BOMBARDMENT. BY THREE ENEMY DESTROYERS. I London, Jan. 18 The bombardment of Yarmouth was apparently the work of three flestroyers. The night was wild and dark, and the visibility such that a British patrol was unable to see more than 300 yards, The enemy destroyers went full speed past Yarmouth and fired indiscriminately.

j CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS. FRANCHISE UNDER CONDITIONS. ■ ! London, Jan. 18. The House of Lords carried an amendment to the People's Bill giving the franchise to conscientious objectors.

! DESERTERS RESCUED. ESCORT OVERPOWERED. London, Jan. 18. An armed gang rushed a train at Burton Port, 'a fishing village in County Donegal, overpowered a military escort, and rescued two deserters. The escapees made off in a motor-car and the rescuers dispersed over the eountry-skle. Another gang attempted to break into a police office near Emtio. The police fired 011 and dispersed tl.i gang. MILITARY CROSS FOR NEW ZEALANDERS. | Aus. and NZ. Cable Assoc. and Reuter. Received Jan. 19, 5.5 p.m. London, Jan. 19. Military Crosses have been awarded to the following New Zcalanders: Lieuts. M. C. Milne and K. J. Tait; Second-Lieuts. C. R. McKenzie and J. H. Picot. FLOUR FROM AUSTRALIA. Sydney. Jan. 19. The British Government has ordered 43,000 tons of flour from local firms, for delivery by June, at .CIO 8s Gd per ton. MARGARINE COMMANDEERED. Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assoc. and Reuter. Received Jan. 21, 5.5 p.m. London, Jan. 18. The Food Controller commandeers all margarine from. January 20. If your grocer doesn't stock Hayward's MILITARY or FLAG BRAND PICKLES he is not giving you the best for your money or table. Insist on these favorite Dominion appetisers. All leading grocers. The rich cant buy nor the poor desire anything better than Havward's MILITARY PICKLE. Always even in quality and moderate in once. All atorea.