TO-DAY'S NEWS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXVII, Issue 9051, 23 July 1917, Page 5

TO-DAY'S NEWS.

THE ALLIES' IDEALS.

A Notable Speech. 7

Lloyd George Replies to

Michaelis.

German Policy of Shams.

British Food Supply

Assured.

Fewer Shipping Losses*

(Received July 23, 8.50 a.m.)., i 'LONDON, July"; 22

Mr Lloyd George, after saying that on the whole the German Chancellor's

Bpeech meant that the Military Party had momentarily won, proceeded:— "The form of Germany's Government is the Germans' own affair, but what manner of Government we can trust to make peace with is -our business. Democracy has not its guarantee of peace, and if you cannot get it in Germany, then we must secure another guarantee aa a substitute.: Menace to Belgium. " The Chancellor's speech showed that Germany, for the moment, has decided for war. Belgium wasn't even mentioned in the Chancellor's speech —its phraseology is full of menace. The holding of Belgium makes the German frontier secure, it makes Metz. and Strassburg safe, and they will take Liege and control Antwerp in order to secure German economic interests.

" The determination of the Allies is that Belgium must be restored as a free and independent people, and not a protectorate. Nothing but Shams. "I read Dr. Michaelis's speech, as was my duty, once, twice, and thrice, to seek anything from which I could hope to end the bloody struggle. I see in it a sham independence for Belgium, a sham democracy for Germany, and a shani peace for Europe; and X say that Europe has not sacrificed millions of gallant sons to re-establish the soil consecrated by their blood as a mere sanctuary-for shams : Dr. Michaelis tries to dope his people with illustrious Germany, but he will find that these visions, like others, will be dispelled."

Bright Shipping Outlook. " I am sorry to disillusion Dr. Michaelis at the outset of his career, but truth compels me to show that gradually and surely we are increasing our production and diminishing the losses at sea. Although our apprehensions were great during the summer months, we gradually decreased our losses. For example: Comparing three weeks in July with the corresponding period in April, we have not lost half the number of ships. We will turn out in 1918 four times the number of ships we did in 1916; in the last two mouths of 1917 we shall turn out as many ships as we did during the whole of last year; and will turn out in 1918; six times more than in 1916. Food SuppSy Secured. "Far from starving us, owing to the exertions of the Food Controller and the Shipping Controller, our food supply for 1917-18, on the basis of present consumption, is secured, and we are arranging a programme of cultivation to make the 1918 supply secure, even if the shipping losses increased.

"We don't want the Germans to harbour delusions that they are going to put us out of this fight till liberty has been re-established throughout the world. The Struggle for Freedom.

"A great German newspaper, the other day, said that Germany was fighting for the freedom and independence of the Fatherland. That was

never true. The freer Germany is the better we will; like it. Her rulers, and not the Allies, are the enemies of the freedom of Germany. We could make peaoe with a • free Germany, but we cannot with a Germany dominated by autocracy.. Since the Russian revolution.and* the Russian offer to concede the independence of nations under the Russian :flag, the last shadow of prer text that Germany is fighting for freedom is banished. It is no.w a struggle between a group of democracy freemen and a group of nations governed by military autocracy."