VICTORY'S BIG FACTOR.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 89, 14 April 1917, Page 5

VICTORY'S BIG FACTOR.

KEEPING UP THE TONNAGE.

AMERICA'S CONTRIBUTION.

LONDON, April 13. Speaking at the luncheon given in his honour by American citizens, Mr. Lloyd George said that when Americans were told they would not be allowed to cross or reeross the Atlantic except at their peril, they could- not think it possible j that any sane people should behave in that manner. They tolerated it once, they tolerated it twice, until at last it became clear that the Germans really meant it. Then America acted, and acted promptly. Hindenburg's line was drawn along the shores of America, and Americans were told they must not cross it. America said: "What's this?" Germany said: "This is our line, beyond wlrjsjj you must not go"; and America said: "The place for that tine is not the Atlantic, but on the Rhine, and we must help you to roll it up," and they have started on the road to victory." "An absolute assurance of victory must be found in one word, 'Ships.' With characteristic keenness, Americans fully rea v> that, and already they have arrai. 0 ,-d to build 1,000 vessels of 3,000 tons for the Atlantic trade. The British are slow, blundering people, but they get there. The Americans get there sooner than we do. Why we are glad to see them in is that we have been three years in this business, and having got through every blunder, we have got a good start. Now we are right out on the course." Mr. Lloyd George suggested that by the study of Britain's blunders, America would start where Britain now is, not where she started. Commenting on the preparations for war in America, Reuters correspondent at Washington says Mr. Wilson believes he will do the greatest service to the Allies by providing an armada of merchantmen to invalidate the undersea campaign. Tho country's entire shipbuilding facilities, including 100 new plants, wili construct a fleet of wooden ships of 2,000 tons upwards. The first year's production will average three "ships daily. The vessels will be armed. Colonel G. W. Goethals, builder of the Panama Canal, will be in charge of the scheme.— (Reuter.) U.S. NAVY'S WORK. POUCING WESTERN WATERS. WASHINGTON, April 13. The conferences between British. French and American naval representatives continue. It is presumed that the object is the withdrawal of Entente warshins from western waters, leaving the task of policing them to the United States. It is proposed that the United States be allow/*' to use the Bermuda and other British naval bases in order to facilitate the operations.— (A. and N.Z. Cable.) _ It is announced that the United StateNavy is assuming control of the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea — (Reuter.) AMERICA'S PEACE IDEAS. ALLIED MISSIONS' INQUIRIES. WASHINGTON. April 13. | During his visit to the United States the British Minister for Foreign Affairs. Mr. A. J. Balfour, will be accompanied by Rear-Admiral Sir Dudley do Chair, Naval Adviser to the Foreign Office. Major-Genoral G. T. M. Bridges, and a Governor of the Brink of England. The French mission will, it is expected, comprise M. Viviani (Minister for Justice), M. Gustnvc Homberg (representing the French Treasury), Marshal Joffre (Military Adviser to the French War Cabinet), and "Jcncrai Foch. The missions will inquire what are America's ideas of the terms of peace. (A.sand N.Z. Cable.) Sir Dudley de Chair was Naval Attache to the United States in 1002. He was Naval Secretary to the First Lord of the Admiralty from 1912 to 1914, and from tbe outbreak of war commanded the 10th cruiser squadron, being appointed to the Foreign Office last year. General Bridges has served in the present war, and was lately head of the Military Mission with the' Belgian Field Army. "I.OW RECRUITING. (Received 10.30 a.m.) WASHINGTON, April 13. Official figures show that at the present rate of recruiting the United States will require six years to raise an army of a million men. — (A. and' N.Z. Cable.)

CO-OPERATION WITH BRITAIN. (Received 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, April 13. Rear-Admiral Sims has arrived to diecuss with the British Admiralty the best means of the American fleet's cooperation.—(A. and N.Z. Cable.)