Britain.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume VI, Issue 350, 8 February 1917, Page 5

Britain.

UNIVERSAL EFFORT.

NATIONAL ORGANISATION.

MR. CHAMBERLAIN S SCHEME

[AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSN. 1 London, Feb. 7.

Mr. Lloyd George addressed a public meetirio' at Westminster to inaugurate Mr. Neville Chamberlain’s national service scheme.

German consul must be notified of it in time for him to be present if he so desires.

According to the “New York American’s” information, the plot involves the placing aboard of all the eighty ships interned in American ports sufficient quantity of explosives to destroy them. This plot, it is said, was conceived soon after tlie sinking of the Lusitania. The destruction of the vessels was to follow receipt of word of the declaration of war by the ships’ commanders, and was to be as nearly simultaneous as possible.

ELABORATE SPY SYSTEM.

There now exists around the German and Austrian vessels interned in the port of New York an extensive spy system, in which one set of spies is keeping watch on the other. Seventy-three members of the neutrality squad and a customs guard of thirty men are watching the vessels for the Collector of the port.

A detail of secret service men, some of them working as longshoremen, are performing the same service for the United States Government.

Operatives of the British Government, reinforced by picked men from Scotland Yard, are operating under the direction of the British Consul.

Back of these lines is the elaborate spy system of the German Empire, which has been extended since the Lusitania incident.

At eight o’clock each night all the ships are inspected by’ the neutrality’ squad of the port. Again at twelve o’clock the rounds of the ships are made. No Americans are permitted aboard the ships unless they’ are Government officials, and then only after the treaty regulations have been complied with. SHIPS IN GOOD CONDITION.

The steamships are being kept in excellent condition. From a German source, it was learned that a mechanical device has been invented for cleaning the vessels’ bottoms. This device is lowered each night and part of the boat’s bottom scraped. Divers also have been working at intervals.

The Department of Justice in this city was absolutely silent regarding the reported plot, referring all questions to the Department in Washington.

Many Commoners, the Lord Mayor and prominent citizens were present, including representatives of the leading employees’ trade unions. Mr. Henderson, presiding, said we needed to make a swift aiMtwer to Germany’s latest challenge. Military exigencies and the national honour rendered it imperative that the drafts for troops abroad should be supplied with unfailing regularitv.

Mr. Chamberlain said that the army must supply drafts of young and physically fit men, who alone could stand the terrific strain of modern trench warfare. His problem was to find substitutes who would prevent the essential industries of the country languishing. He had arranged a scheme with . the bishops whereby the clergy might be utilised for other work. The doctors must be mobilised and distributed among the civil population. Men already engaged in work of national importance would be asked to enrol as they might be wanted for similar work in other parts of the country. He proposed to utilise the local authorities as employment exchanges for the enrolment and controlling the distribution of labour. A minimum wage of 25/- weekly would be established, including agriculture. The question was, where could labour be found ? They could not suddenly destroy the nonessential trades. Such destruction would interfere with credit. The least essential trades must fall first. Germany means to starve us out before she herself is starved. National service would deal the enemy a blow straight between the eyes and bring him to his senses.

THE PREMIER’S SPEECH

Air. Lloyd George said that Great Britain had sent fewer men to the army and navy in proportion to population than any oi the western Bowers. France had provided one in six. IV e were not shirking our contribution, but were making a larger contribution in other respects. The Navy meant an enormous drain on our man power. If the present voluntary system failed the nation must prepare itself for compulsion. The community was entitled to the utmost and the best, help of every member who participates in its lite. If it failed to get the necessary staff by voluntary means the Government would be guilty of the grossest dereliction of duty if it did not resort to legislation. The submarine campaign was Germany’s set policy. It had been thought out for a year. It was taught in the schools. We must build ships to protect our merchantmen in order to demonstrate that murder on the high seas was futile. We could do it but the nation must be organised. Out patriotism must not be less than Germany’s. Our country was equally worth fighting for. It had been a rich land in the past and the present. What riches the future holds depends on the people to-day. (Cheers). No man who shares this inheritance has the right to pass on its defence to his neighbour.

THE SCHEME OUTLINED

Mr Chamberlain’s scheme provides for a subsistence allowance of 2 6 per day for volunteers out of work, and a grant of 3'6 daily for four weeks.

The rate of pay for the national volunteers is the rate for their job. It might be higher or lower than

the one they were accustomed to. Mr. Chamberlain states that each must take his luck as the soldiers did.

It was impossible to indicate the present lines whereon national industries would proceed. Certainly there would be some restrictions in the less essential occupations, but by sharing machinery and plant, labour should enable the trades to maintain their prosperity after the war. THE DARDANELLES REPORT. [AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSN,] London. I eb. 7. All the members except, one have signed the Dardanelles interim report. Mr. Fisher (Australian High Commissioner) ami Sir T. Mackenzie have signed, and have also presented a separate minute. The “Daily Chronicle” states that the Dardanelles interim report is being printed. Lord Cromer (chairman of the Commission) signed it in his sick room a few days before his death. It remains for the Government to decide if the report shall be published. The sittings continue. THE POISON PLOT. [AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSN.] London, Feb. 7. In the conspiracy cases the prisoners at Derby pleaded not guilty and reserved their defences. They were committed for trial at to-mor-row’s Assizes. N.Z. PRISONERS OF WAR. FOOD AND LUXURIES. IAUSIRAIIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSN.)

London, Feb. 7.

Sir T. Mackenzie’s report on the assistance rendered to New Zealand prisoners shows that in addition to parcels of clothing each receives 9/worth of food weekly and cigarettes and tobacco fortnightly. Prisoners in Germany get 2/6 a week pocket money and those in Turkey 10/1 to 12,*2 a week, according to the locality' where they are imprisoned. The latter receive a good local bread supply. There is great difficulty in sending parcels, which sometimes are three to ten months in transmission. They receive monev more easily.

LONDON NEWS ITEMS

[AUSTBALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASBN.]

Mr Arthur Richardson, ex-M.P., was elected unopposed for Rotherham in place* of Mr. J. A. Pease. The Bishop of Birmingham has arranged with his hankers to advance him £lOOO. He offers to lend to the poorer clergy between £0 and £lO for the war loan, to be repayable in monthly instalments. He appeals to the clergy to exhort their congregations to subscribe to the war loan.

The Jockey Club, in response to the Government’s request, has agreed at present to race al Newmarket only.

[AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASS'N] (Received b, 11.10 a.m.) The War Savings Committee has caused by erecting hoardings the obliteration of frontages of buildings on three sides of Trafalgar Square with exhortations to subscribe to the loan. Hie buildings include the National Gallery. The Indian Government has ordered compulsory training of Europeans in India.