THE POSITION REVIEWED

Greymouth Evening Star, 26 February 1917, Page 5

THE POSITION REVIEWED

STATEMENT DY LLOYD ueoßue.

THE NECESSITY' OF CAKE.

[AUSTRALIAN AND V.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION.J

Received this day at noon. . LONDON, February 25

In the House of Commons, ’Mr Lloyd George, referring' to the submarine campaign, greatly emphasised the fact' that while the Government was hopeful of being able to deal with the menace, we should be guilty of criminal folly if we vested our policy on tranquil anticipation of our ability to realise that hope. He added: “I want the House and the country to realise that we must be able to carry on the war to a victorious end, however long, oven though we fail to hunt the submarines from the deep.. We cannot build our plans on any other policy. * He proceeded to slfbw that whatever measures were adopted, complete immunity from piratical attacks would be impossible.

He instanced the wars of Louis XIV and Trafalgar," when we commanded the sea, but hundreds of our ships were sunk annually. Hence the necessity for concentration on the tonnage question, which was the really vital problem. The shipyards must be utilised to the utmost for antisubmarine craft, besides merchantmen.

In regard to the imports problem. timber, of which b. 400,000 tons had been imported last year, must be deal twitli. In order to save tonnage, bo was investigating the best methods of economising timber. The French Government had given two forests for the use of our Army in France. He was afraid we must ask for more. The supply of home timber must also be increased. He then that we could Fell enough trees for all purposes. We were importing; millions of tons of iron g;rade ore in Britain. If we could ore while there was plenty of 1 , augment the supply of labour could enormously increase the output, and there would be a large saving of tonnage therefrom. Unfortunately, it would nut come until late in the year.

GERMANS’ POOR EXCUSE.

DUTCH PRESS INDIGNANT

[AUSTRALIAN ANI> N.Z. CAULK ASSOCIATION j

Received this dav at 10.10 a.m

THE HAGUE, February 25

The German Legation, in ord*v to prevent a wrong impression, point out that the torpedoed vessels were previously aware that they could only depend on relative safety, namely, safety dependent on fortunate or incidental circumstances, The ships were lost owing to a combination of mischance and circumstance, over which the Germans had no control.

The Dutch Press is extremely angry. The “Telegraf” states that the torpedoing of seven vessels was the greatest humiliation endured by a neutral during the,war. It can no longer see how honou'r can continue to <he upheld by protests.

The “Hundclsbad” savs: This is an instance of submarine war prosecuted with all absolute contempt of Holland’s rights and interests. The “Dutch Gazette’’ declares that Germany is clearly determined to pursue Uolland. ami we may expect'further similar disasters. It asks : T7hat will the Government do? /

All the, papers comment on the gravity' of the situation.

SAVING OF TONNAGE.

ECONOMY

[AUSTEALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION.^

Received this day at 10.10 a.m LONDON, February

Mr Lloyd George’s restrictions on imports are estimated to save live million tons, whereby 1~5 more vessel's of five thousand tons each will be available for the transit of necessaries on the basis of eight voyages a year.

THE LOST DUTCH VESSELS.

LLOYD’S ACCOUNT

fBEUTEII’S TELEOBAM."]

Received this day at ILSO a.m. LONDON, February 26.

Lloyd’s now states that the Meivaflo is safely in harbor. The Band wng, Eemland and Zandjik are possibly still ahoat.

THE ROUTE INDICATED,

BY DUTCH LEGATION

[AUSTRALIAN AND N-Z. CAULK ASSOCIATION. ]

Received this dav at 11.10 a.W. LONDON, February 2). All ' The ,i)utch vessels sailed on Tlnu'sday from Falmouth, where they arrived ou various dates, and were released at the request of the Dutch GovernmentOfficial.—The iDutch Legation privately instructed the captains as to the proper course. V The vessels carried lights,' clearly illuminating them. ‘ A short distance, from Falmouth a submarine attacked and rank three and severely damayetf iouv.

A DUTCH ACCOUNT.

-FURTHER BROKEN FLEDGES

|reuter’s telegram'.")

• Received this ■ day, at 11-5 -a.iil. THE- HAGUE. February 26! . Official.—When unrestricted submar'iimg. was proclaimed, the Dutch Govern-' meat .protested, and urged perm any to take ,care that ho;Dutch vessels en route to and from Dutch ports s.linnld fall victims; Germany replied that sh* was ready to comply, but it.was Tmuossihle to guarantee absolute, safety. T#?’ sunken vessels, availing' themselves of the German; offer, left port together ori the '22nd. All torpedoed .without, their ' papers .being examined. : ! 3 rn ■; '