LLOYD GEORGE'S MILITARY REVIEW

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 77, 24 December 1917, Page 5

LLOYD GEORGE'S MILITARY REVIEW

GREATER SACRIFICES MUST BE MADE ALLIES' GREAT RESERVES OF MAN-POWER By Telegraph—Press Asßoototion—Copyright London, December 20. Mr Lloyd George, in liis address in the House of Commons on the military situation, said it would be idle to pretend that our hopes at the beginjiirij of the year had been realised. 'Ihe disappointment was attributablo entirely to the Russian collapse. At the beginning of the year tho Russian Army was better equipped with guns, machine guns, and ammunition than ever before. Nevertheless, the Germans had not oven held their own on the West front. If the Russians had fulfilled expectations, the pride of the Prussian military power would have been completely humbled by an Allied success in 1917. The capture of Bagdad and tho surrender of Jerusalem would have a permanent effect on the world's history. Iho capture of Jerusalem which would never bo restored to the lurk, had, rightly or uronglj, added more to the prestige of British arms than any other event of the war. Some people said these were only side-shows. The British Empire owned a good deal to side-shows.

Our Expectations Not Achieved. Despite the fact that the German s had been able to use tho East front as a rest cure place for broken regiments, they had only one sucess, due to a surprise which was now the subject of inquiry. The Germans lost over a thousand, prisoners, a hundred guns, and valuable ground Notwithstanding oui leery conspicuous victories in Flanders and Franco, the campaign, on the whole, had not achieved our expectations. Ono great event of the year was the advent of America into world politics. Another memorable event was the creation of an International Council at Versailles, thus setting up for tho first time the machinery of a League of Nations. The council would have a greater effect on international relations than anyono now lmgamed. bo tar it had been a conspicuous success. Itself free from friction, it had helped to remove friction. Italian Situation Restored. Undoubtedly the situation had become more menacing owing to the unexpected defeat of Italy, and, secondly, by the Russian armistice. British and French forces had been sent to the rescue of Italy with a cclerity which had creatly surprised the enemy. If our troops had not arrived with such remarkable rapidity, one could not have guaranteed what would haw happened. Their advent not only strengthened Italy's armies, but helped Italy s morale to such a degree that troops which had scattered in Northern Italy volunteered to return to the ranks. The Anglo-French assistance was a triumph oi organisation. The Italian situation was now largely restored, but the defeat made the military position more anxious for tho British and French, in tne direction of making a great drain on their man-power. British Army Must be Strengthened. Russia quiescent "for the past few_ months but nominally at .war, was keeping a considerable number of Austrians and Germans oil the East_front. The armistice had alterod the situation, although it was truo the armistice imposed on Germany the obligation not to remove troops. We had heard of '"scraps of paper," and the country which was now relying on tho Germans keeping that obligation was a country which had not profited by experience. These facts cast fresh obligations on tho other Allies. It was absolutely necessary for Britain to make greater sacrifices, and strengthen her Army during the coming year. With a vi 3W of increasing the supply of men for the Army it would be nccessary to ask tho trade unions to_ consent to an alteration'of the pledges given, owing to the changed conditions putting a Greater demand on the nation's man-power. This step was unavoidable, bccause thev must draw upon their reserve man-power rather than send back to tho front men who had been badly wounded, which would bo unfair and intolerable while men stayed at homo who'l.ad never gono to fight. The Government also wanted to meet the needs of shipbuilding and agriculture. _ Sir Auckland Geddes would next week explain tho position to the trade unions, and ( the Governmont, immediately after the adjournment, proposed to ask for powers to raise the men required. The next few months would be the most trying of tho war because one great Power had practically gone out and the other great Power was not fully in.

Corman and Austrian Losses Much Greater than the Allies'. Our burden would be great, but wo must not imagine that the enemy had no difficulties. The physical quality of the German workers had so deteriorated that their output was 33 per cent, loss than in 1914 Germany was using ud her reserve man-power. France had lost heavily, but the Italian losses were not comparable with those of Austria, while the British losses were only i ouarter or a fifth of Germany's permanent losses. Tho Allied reservo manpower was more than double tho reserve of all the enemy countries. Time and tonnage only were required, and the enemy knew it. Restatement of Britain's War Aims. Mr Lloyd George proceeded to say that a great deal had been made of the complaint that tho Government had not fully stated its war aims. He would reneat the points of his Glasgow speech, and ask those cmics if they would challenge any of them: First, tho complete restoration of the territories Germany had conquered, and the reparation of the damage. If Russia derided to enter into separate negotiations she must look after her own terri•fnripq Her action also disposed of the question of Constantinople Secondly the question of Mesopotamia must bo left to the Peace Congress provided Mesopotamia and Armenia were never a subjecitcd to the blighting and blastintr influence of the Turks. The third pointr- that the great International Peace Concress must settle was the question of tho German colonies, having regard to the wishes and interests of the inhabitants. He stood by that princiol° which he had already laid down, that tho congress must settle all these nuestions, upon tho principle of respecting the desires and sentiments of tho neoole themselves, tho confidence winch German rule inspired, and whether the colonists desired their former masters or to entrust _ themselves to others. The wishes of the people themselves mu s t ho tho dominant factor in settling their future government. Wo had conquered no country in which tho population belonged to a ruling race—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

PROVISION OF SHIPS THE ALL-IMPORTANT MATTER INCREASING CULTIVATION IN ENGLAND. (Rec. Decombcr 23, 5.5 p.m.) London, December 21. Mr.' Lloyd George, addressing the chairmen of thei agricultural committees, said* "The struggle now is largely ono of tonuage. else can beat lis, nothing else can Tin for us. .The question of building ships and saving ships , rmestion of victory or defeat. We havo never made the best uso of agriculture The war is teaching its a lesson. Mo must drop theory and preemptions interfering with complete cultivation. AVo must begm now by increasing cultivation Wo want to get 3,000.000 acres cultivated. \ou liavo the ne't hundred days in which to do tho whole task whereby.we can increase enormously the vrea of cultivation and increase enormously tho sh.p-pi-jr at our disposal in order to bring troops, guns, and munitions to defeat the cruel enemy. The cultivation of 2,000,000 acres means tlm feeding of 3,000,000 people. Labour for Working the Lantl. Referring to labour difficulties, Mi'. Lloyd George said the Government had decided to facilitate the use of prisoners of war on tho land. He hoped to provide 30,000 unskilled labourers, including a small proportion of women, Zls 0000 horses. He hoped that 2000 tractors which had already been supplied to the country committees wo u kl be doubled before tho middle o February and redoubled by the middle „f March. Ho appealed to the country remittees to urge farmers to increase thoir cultivation, and to encourage the cultivation of allotments, which last year saved scores of thousands, possibly hundreds of thousands, of tons of shipping. Ho asked the country committees to be ruthless and relentless with those farmers who refused to increase their cultivation— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.