BRITAIN'S PART.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15747, 14 November 1916, Page 7

BRITAIN'S PART.

CHURCHILL DEFENDED

A VIGOROUS ARTICLE

(By Cubl<\ —Press Association.—Copy right (Australian and -N.Z. CAble Association.) LONDON, November 1-. Lord Rothormere, in an article in the ".Sunday Pictorial," warmly defending Colonel Winston Churchill from recent attacks, remarks: ''The majority of unsparing criticisms against him centre round the Dardanelles. As that matter is the subject of a Commission enquiry, tho public must wait the Commission's report, when it can form its own conclusions. .Early in 1913 Colonel Churchill warned the Admiralty of the futuro role of the Zeppelins, and urged the construction of similar aircraft scouts. If his views were not carried into lull effect, the responsibility no doubt' rests in a degree with Colonel Churchill, but also perhaps in greater degree with the naval experts, who were divided, or luke-warm in their opinions, and with Ministers ignorant or sceptical of the importance of aerial warfare. Colonel Churchill opposed by the difficulty of obtaining money and convinced that the hornet aeroplane would establish its superiority on land and sea, determined to concentrate his stinted resources mainly on them. Colonel Churchill in one written communication early in 1010. outlined the entire conception of the 'tanks' to the Government, and at the end of March ordered the construction of a considerable number identical with those .used on tho Somme. It is difficult to exaggerate what was accomplished under his energetic regime in the early days of the war. It was to Colonel Churchill's credit that tho outbreak of war after a century of peace found every phip, great or small, ready and at war stations. That was a wonderful achievement if preparedness, and alone should be sufficient to secure Colonel Churchill and all others concerned in it, grateful recognition in tho records and minds of their countrymen."

PACIFISTS DISPERSED.

LONDON. November 12. A great, procession wrecked a Pacifist conference at Cardiff.

Mr Ramsay Macdonald, M.P.. and other speakejp, escaped by a sido-door.

CONTROL OF REUTER'S

LONDON, November 12,

A syndicate, headed by the Hon. Mark Francis Napier, Lord Glenconner, Viscount Peel, and Sir Starr Jameson, has offered to purchase Renter's Telegram Company, with the object of ensuring that the agency shall continue independent of alien control. The existing administration -would not bo altered.

PRESS PRICES RISE

LONDON. November 12

Tho '"Weekly Despatch" announces that the price of "'The Times" will be lid after "the 18th inst. It expects the other leading newspapers will follow suit, owing to the cost of paper.

Another cablegram quotes the date a s the 20th inst.