MOTHER COUNTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 February 1918, Page 5

MOTHER COUNTRY.

JAPAN'S ATTITUDE. DISCUSSED BY THE PRESS. TIME FOR HER TO ACT. Received Feb. 27, 2.30 p.m. London, Feb. -2(1. British ntul French newspapers are discussing; ,lapan's attitude toward Russia, in view of the Bolsheviks' shameful capitulation. The Daily Chronicle says that Japan's refusal to send troops to Europe was natural and inevitable. Japan is iiot a European nation; but now that Russia in Asia looms before German ambition as one of the spoils of war, the situation is different. It' the Allies can come to a practical agreement with Japan, the latter may take a military part in the common struggle-. FIVE MILLION MEN VOTED. EXCLUDING THOSE FOR INDIA. Received Feb. 27, 8.5 p.m. London, Feb. 20. The House of Commons has voted live million men for th c home and colonial establishment, including the z'r force, but excluding those serving in Mia. WAR MUST BE WAGED. WHY J A I'AX SHOULD INTERVENE. Received Feb. 17, 2.30 p.m. Paris, Feb. 20, Newspapers generally express the opinion that it is time for Japan to act. The German peril i n the East is too real to lie ignored. Temps says that Germany's" new dream is a road fl-om Berlin to" Tokio, instead of from Berlin to Bagdad. Japan understands the danger tc the people of Russia. and -Siberia. It is no longer sufficient to police Siberia. War must be waged there as every day German influence is dragging the keys of Vladivostock westward. SUCCESS OF WAR BONDS. INSPIRING SPEECH BY MR. BON<VR law. Renter Service Received Feb. 27, 5.20 p.m. London, Feb. 20. Mr. Bonar Law, in a speech '.it the Aldwych Club, said that the national war ibonds were assured of success. They had already raised more than the total of the new money secured in the 4'/ 2 per cent, war loan. We had a ni<rged path to climb, bui there was no ground for discouragement or faint-heart<v4ncss. Germany could not break our lines. All Germany's peace talk was froth. If it were possible to have an election in Britain at the present time on the plain issue of continuing the war until we «ecured the results for which we had entered on the struggle, the result would astonish us apd our enemies. BRITISH TRADE COMMISSIONERS. THEIR FUNCTIONS OUTLINED. Reuter Service. ! Received Feb. 27,10.50 p.m. I London, Feb. 20. In the House of Commons, Mr. A. H. I I). R. Steel-Maitland, in introducing the estimates for the Department of Overseas Trade, stated that out of sixteen Imperial trade commissioners, thirteen had been sanctioned, and nine actually appointed, as British consuls, and in future would be expected to deal adequately with their districts, while it would be their duty as commercial attaches to keep the Government informed of the general and financial development and economic state of the country where they were stationed, and also keep a constant watch in order that any system of commercial penetration attempted by our rivals should be clearly understood, and the knowledge thereof placed at the disposal of the British trading community. APPEAL TO SHIPYARDS. TO SPEED UP WORK. Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assoc. and Reuter. Received Feb. 27, 10.50 p.m. London, Feb. 27. Mr. G. N. Barnes has appealed to the shipyard workers to put their backs into their work. Last month less than half the estimated nurtiber of ships were turned out, and this month the position had not improved. The matter was very serious, because,,as regards shipbuilding, An»erica is failing us and we must construct a much larger number, if we are to get through the trouble during the next few months.