BRITISH WAR VOTE.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 March 1918, Page 4

BRITISH WAR VOTE.

LOAN'S TO ALLIES AND DOMINIONS. THE NATIONAL DEBT. Aus. and NZ. Cable Assoc, aiid Router. London, March S. Mr. Bonar Law, continuing his speech in the House of Commons, Raid the item ,3i1% million represented advances to the Dominions. It was not a loan, but meant that the Dominion troops in Britain were largely supplied by our arrangements at Home. The increased expenditure was largely due to the exteniion of the operations in Palestine and Mesopotamia, and the increased personnel of the army, but the principal cause was the increased quantity and cost of commodities. Loans to the Allies on February 0 stood at 1204 million, and loans to the Dominions at 180 million. The estimated national debt at the end of the financial year would be about 5000 million.

SURVEY OF WAR SITUATION. Surveying: the war situation, Mr. Bonar Law said: '"We have knowledge that the Germans promised Turkey that they would expel the British from Mesopotamia, but tli.y have been forced to abandon their plans" Though Germany hoped for much food from Russia, the British Government information was that the food produced in Russia this year would barely supply Russia herself. From every point of view it was unlikely that Germany would bo able to exploit Russia. We probably had a slight superiority of men and Guns on the 'Western front, and we were overwhelmingly superior in the air. Our forces in France had been working to do their utmost to strengthen the defences, and the results were wonderful. They used more barbed wire in January and February than in the whole of 1!)17. He was somewhat sceptical about the German offensive. ' PROTECTING EGYPT. The general position at Salonika was unsatisfactory, but this was duo to Russia's collapse. We did not expect a year ago to be purely on the defensive. The general commanding recognised that the position at Salonika might become dangerous. The Central Powers, with \better communications, mirdit send forces which it would be difficult, parhaps impossible, for us to meet, but Ger■iminyV, man-power was not inexhaustible, and she could not do everything at or.ee. She would pay dearly for every yard of advance. It was not dillicnlt lo justify the expedition. If it had not been "sent Geiv many would have controlled the Gree harbors, which were vital i'<,r us. If tfie enemy secured them and used them/isT .submarine bases it would be almost impossible to keep up communication with Egypt. The victories in Mesopotamia and Palestine were not only a moral and material gain, but an immense military accession of strength. Lord Kitchener estimated that the troops necessary to save Egypt from invasion would bo far larger than the total now operating in Mesopotamia and Palestine. A NOTE OF CONFIDENCE. He had no doubt that if the Allies held together they could secure the*tesuits which they set out to achieve. Unless the Germans learn thai war did not pay and that it was no longer possible for a group of men to plunge the world into misery, peace would be a defeat for the Allies. If the question of continuing the war was submitted to a referendum in Great Britain the result would astonish the enemy and ourselves. Mr I Asuuilli, in a speech at Cupar, said there wore two keys to the world, position, command of the seas and the West front. Moth remained in the Allies' hands. The submarine, inroads on our mercantile marine and the collapse of Russia presented new and formidable dangers but did not fill us with apprehension.

GERMANY'S PRETENSIONS AND INTENTIONS. The so-called peace negotiations w an instructive contrast between. P many's pretensions and intei,lions. While Count Hertling was professing' acceptance of President Wilson's four principles, welcoming a court of international arbitration and approving a league of nations, to which tlie bulk of us here and in America look as the onjy .effective safeguard, liis subordinates were j writing in terms not of treaty but of capitulation as harsh and humiliating as any in history, and ruthlessly and recklessly nnitilaliii),' a-great national unity. If carried out it would sow seeds of conflict and embroil nations for generations.

EXPLOSION KILLS FOUR PEOPLE, London, March 8. The Press Bureau states that by an explosion in a small Government workshop in South Umdoii four were killed, ono injured, and a shop destroyed. BULGARIA'S HUMANITY TO PRISONERS. London, March *B. Information from nuctral sources indicates (hat British prisoners are excellently treated in Bulgaria. TANKS RAISE £14,229,000. London, March 8. The tanks in London yesterday raised £R22D,<)OO. The total applications throughout tin- country for war bonds on Holiday, Tuesday, and Wednesday j amounted to £(!0,000,(K)0.