MOTHER COUNTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 August 1918, Page 6

MOTHER COUNTRY.

WAR ANNIVERSARY. GENERAL MAURICE'S CRITICISM. London, August 2. The Allied and Imperial leaders exchanged remembrances to-day. Mr. Massey's mesasge states that four years ot war has only strengthened I determination of tfh'e British to | continue the struggle, whijcli, in dofence of civilisation, they were compelled to enter. New Zealand in the same spirit entci'3 the fifth year prepared to face cheerfully whatever trials were in store, confident in a victory for righteousness and humanity.—Tirueh. General Maurice (who it will he reimenib -d was recently dismissed from a high position on the stalf) says that Britain cannot look back with much satisfaction oil the fourth year of war. She has muddled through a period of great peril and one may suv with a thankful heart that the prospects of the fifth year are much brighter than there was reason to anticipate a few weeks ago. We must admit, after four years of bitter experience, that we have not learned how to wage war. The Germans are not our superiors in generalship and our failure is mainly due to the fact that our statesmen "have not realised that military advice, to be effect ivo, must be organised. Consultations by statesmen with individual commanders, instead of discussions with the stiff, have involved delayed action. If this year is to bo the last of (he war the Government must organise our machinery on scientific lines and equip a general staff to give advice, and take no other. It musf also ensure that plans of action shall be prepared in due time.—Aus.-N.Z Cable Assn IMPERIAL CONFERENCE.

London, August ... In the House ol Commons Mr. Bonar Lav.-, in replying to Mr Runciman, said that the United Kingdom and Dominions must settle their fiscal policies independently He had pointed out that the British Government lias put itself in line with tiie Dominions by deciding to give preference on articles now dutiable or dutiable in future. The Imperial Conference had accepted the principle of preference in 1017 and discussed the Empire's general economic policy many times this year.

Mr Balfour, in the House ni Common?, said there was a unanimous desire to create machinery to spare future generations the horrors of the war. Germany to-day was using economic weapon; against subject nations in such a manner as to sow the seeds for future war

lip was prepared vehemently to jweadi the <1 ri nc of Iho League of Nations hut the (iermr.it people had not yet arrived at the attitude of abhorring the miseries and brutalities of war and was not. ret genuinely looking for ward to the time when armies will .bp disbanded and the nations living in freedom and amity A repetition of the world catastrnpho would leave civilisation bankrupt. Believers in the League 01 Nations must warmly advocate pressing the war to a victorious conclusion. Any weakening of our arms would 'be a crime against our national pride and the principles of a general peace for winch we vert! fighting.—Aus.-N.Z. fable Assoc. Sir Douglas llaig has asked the Agents-General to simply particulars of openings for ex-soldiers in farming, stock-raising and dairying, in connection with a scheme for educating the army in France. The British attache in Italy Ims made a similar request.—United Service.