IN BRITAIN. STATEMENT BY MR ASQUITH.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXV, Issue 8204, 29 July 1915, Page 5

IN BRITAIN.

STATEMENT BY MR ASQUITH.

A DETERMINED NATION

ALLSES CONFIDENT OF VICTORY

NAVY STRONGER THAN EVER.

(Received July 29, 11.45 a.m.)

LONDON, July 28. Mr Asquith, in moving the adjournment of t.ho House until September 14, said:—"The success of the war loan has done as much as anything to convince the world, particularly our Allies, that we are determined to devote our whole resources to the successful prosecution of the war.

" Since the outbreak of, war. -the Press, with one. or two melancholy and notorious exceptions (loud applause), had discharged its duties with admirable restraint. Members of the House of Commons have also discharged the duty of criticism in an admirable and patriotic manner."

Justifying the adjournment, Mr Asquith alliidod to the enormous increase in the number of questions, which he said were an intolerable strum on the State departments.

He regretted that the action of. the Lords had necessitated the postponement of the Pensions Bill until after the adjournment, when he hoped it would be carried by general consent. Meanwhile, pensions and allowances would continue as before.

The war would be a contest of endurance, and he would be ungrateful and insensitive if he did not recognise at this moment the indescribably gallant efforts of our Russian Allies to stem the tide of invasion a-nd to maintain inviolate the integrity of their position. He thought ijljat in the whole military history there had not been a more magnificent example of discipline and patient endurance, and both individual and collective initiative, than had been shown by the Russian Army during the last 11 months.

The Italians were steadily gaining ground and making their way towards their objective, which he believed would shortly be within their reach.

As for ourselves and the French, said the Prime Minister, wo had been fighting side-by-side for a year, and he did not believe, there had ever been armies inspired with more complote and more unreserved spirit of fraternity and comradeship or more confidence that victory would ultimately be theirs. Our confidence in the Gallipoli operations was undiminished.

The naval position was now far stronger than before the war, and, serious as the submarine menace might appear for tho moment, it wasn't going to inflict a fatal or a substantial injury. British, trade in food and raw materials was coming as in times of peace.

Recruiting for the' Army was highly satisfactory; the latest returns were amongst the hest we had had for a long time. The production of munitions had been organised on a basis which he was satisfied would be adcqnato for our requirements. Reviewing the past 12 months, Mr Asquith asked whether there could bo n greater calumny than to suggest that fchv> British people had not risen to the tinirvM-s of a. {.treat occasion? (Cheers). But it would be a still greater ralumnv unon our Allies to suggest that they did not realise and appreciate to the full the contribution wo wore making to the ultimate triumph of our common cause

Concluding, Mr Asquith said:—"Lot 'iotio give encouragement to the fainthearted, still less to the back-biters ■"•bo are doing what they nan to dishearten our Allies and encourage our enemies. Let all continue in -the snim vhi^b inspired our efforts for the past t> months, and persist and persevere to thr. inevitable triumphant issue." (Prolonged cheers).