MOTHER COUNTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 May 1918, Page 6

MOTHER COUNTRY.

MAURICES VIEW OF POSITION. WEAKNESS OF COMMUNICATIONS. RESERVES IN RIGHT PL4CES. London, May 17. General Maurice, writing in the Daily Chronicle, says: Indications are steadily increasing that the third phase of the campaign is about to open. Two-thirds of the Germans are now between Ypres and tho Oise.

It is a weakness of the British communications that they run parallel to the front, instead of at regular intervals straight from the front to the base, as in the German positions. A successful Gorman attack on any part of the line threatens the communications of the whole British front. It is therefore difficult tt> give ground voluntarily in order to establish a better front.

Hindenburg, early in 11)17, fell back 30 miles without uncovering vital communications. We can in nowise givo one-third of that distance on the Amtens front without grave inconvenience. This is what Sir Douglas Haig meant when he said we were fighting with our backs to the wall.

Although our position is cramped we are in a better situation to meet an attack than on March 21. We have a unified command, and, while our losses have been heavy, there is the clearest evidence that the enemy's have been heavier. American troop? are steadily pouring in. There has been time to readjust the positions of the Allied forces on the whole front, and we may be sure General Foch now has his reserves where lie wants them. The cream of the German specially-trained men have gone. When the enemy attacks he will prob. ably gain precious ground, but, provided we send every man who can be spared to France, there is no reason why wo should not check the new blow as we defeated the last.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Association. NO QUARREL WITH RUSSIA. GOVERNMENT ANXIOUS TO HELP. ' London, May 17. In the House of Commons, Lord Robert Cecil expressed doubt whether the suggestion of a permanent diplomatic council at Versailles would achieve greater results than the existing machinery. Britain had no quarrel with Russia; on the contrary, she had always desired to be on the closest possible terms with the Russian people. We had undeniably suflered grave disappointment and loss owing to Russian political events, but were anxious to do all that was possible to support and assist the Russian people and preserve Russia as a great allied country, or at least as a non-German country.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc.

THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS IDEA. GERMAN PEOPLE MUST BE CHASTENED. London, May 17. Mr. Barnes, a member of the War Cabinet, in a speech at East Ham, said that the League of Nations after the war must reduce armaments, suppress the employment of private capital to produce armaments, and inaugurate machinery to enforce its decrees. He added that it was difficult to envisage a league including Austria and Germany; but we must look beyond the smoke of battle, and must subordinate the feeling of repugnance for the Germans and look ahead to the time when the German people were chastened. Their present depravity might be only a passing phase, and it might well be that the peace terms would require Germany to enter the league. There was a growing feeling among the Entente democracies that the Governments should consult organised Labor to a greater extent.

Mr. Barnes suggested an early Hague Conference to frame a 1 scheme to reduce armaments among the Entente (Powers, also a scheme for combined action against aggression.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc.

RECRUITING IN IRELAND. PREPARING A NEW SCHEME. Received May 18, 5.5 p.m. London, May 17. The Daily Chronicle states that the Government is considering the expediency of launching a scheme of voluntary recruiting in Ireland on the lines of the Derby scheme. In the meantime the drafting of the Home Rule Bill is progressing.—Reuter.

REVOKING NATURALISATION. London, May 17. o The new Nationality Bill empowers the authorities to apply to the court to revoke the naturalisation of British subjects who show disloyalty or are of proved undesirable character, , also of those resident abroad for seven years.— Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc.