LAST NIGHT'S NEWS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXVII, Issue 9127, 24 October 1917, Page 6

LAST NIGHT'S NEWS.

IN BRITAIN.

WAR AND PEACE.

-BRITISH PREMIER REVIEWS THE ' , SITUATION. .

LONDON, Oct. 22

Hilr Lloyd George and Mr Bonar Law . have launched a great autumn campaign 1 for national economy. There was a representative gathering at the . Albert lir.ll from all sections of the ' foirjinunily, including the High Coni- . missioners, in the course of his speech, the Premier dealt with the 'gigantic cost of the war, but said that Britain, after the war, would be a more valuable . asset, because of the efficiency of the people, and because security would be increased. ...Another solacing fact was that, the gigantic debt would be owed to ourselves:' Although tliat had not always made a difference, it was better , that the debt should be in'the family. The more Britain saved the more she could lend to others, which was a most important factor of national Ayealth. . ' Referring to tho terms of.peace, he said rliQ: had been scanning the horizon, anxiously, but could not see any terms in sight which could lead to an' enduring peace. The only terms possible now were an -aimed truce, ending in an even more frightful struggle. Thisiwar . was terrible, but more terrible still were the possibilities it revealed ,of now horrors at sea and in the air. ■ . After enlarging on/the development and possibilities of the destructive • powers of these horrible agents during a period of 20 or 30 years, Mr Lloyd George declarod: "We must settle this j once and for all, otherwise there are] men and women in this hall who may live to see tho death of e-ivilisation." j

/Continuing, Mr Lloyd George said: -r-" You must all know that it is essential for the future of the human race •that a--decision be reached now—that brute force must be dethroned forever so" that our children will not be condemned to terrors which the moat vivid imagination' dare not portray. Such a settlement is not within iuimediate ie<ich. Genaany would only make peace now oa teinis which would enable hei to lencht h\ Uu pi (->ent v ar, and that would bo an encoiu.iguni.ut ioi any buccaneering, Empne in the iutme to lepeat the expeinneni 'Lho lailure of Napoleon taught Fume an unioigettable lefeson, and a smulai lesson must be burnt into the hearts a.nd memories of every Prussian before tliis war can end. , j " The main questions o£ the war are, .not territcuial adjustments or indemnities. It is,, pre-eminently a question or the destruction of the false idea which intimidated and enslaved Europe -^—or' would have done so if it had been triumphant. This year 1 had hoped we might have broken that terrible power. We" Had' been looking forward to a great converging movemeut which would hav6 accomplished that purpose. The temporai-y "collapse of the Russian military power lias postponed our hopesj but time is on our side. Two factors .will contribute to the'^ acconi-

plishinent' of our aims, the advent' of America into'the fray, aiid the hierea.sing failure, of submarinism.

"Our monthly shipping losses are now not much over one-third of the losses recorded during April, when the submarine campaign reached it's greatest intensity. The losses caused by German submarines in 1917 have been mbre than three times the losses of the whole of. last year, but arrangements have been made by which the British, shipping turned 'out in .1918 will bo four times the, total of 1910., America is doing the.same. i

" Germany's'enemies could have produced the world's food' and its supplies of raw, materials, and even if the German.military machine had succeeded—which it could not—this federation of free peoples could, by withholding its products; have, reduced Germany 1 to impotence and desolation—and they would, if necessary. • However; the Allies must husband their resources imtil Russia recovers and America is ready. The. armies must liavu..-suffi-cient men in reserve to ensjire, the.

means of winning. - . J "We must beware of people trying to. sow dissension. The''em'iny on most of the battle fronts have 'organised with deadly care and ingenuity an offensive behind the lines. I know what I am talking about. France discovered it in time, and we must alsoi look out for ' Boloism' in all ishapet and forms. The enemy are attempting to divide the nations—to pit one Ally against another; but I am glad to say, that the Allies -are working with the greatest harmony. ; We are holding one of the iriosi important military and. political iiiter-Allied conferenpes ever held, whose decisions will affect the whole course df the war and may determine its'ultimate issue.