LONDON NEWS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXIX, Issue LXIX, 20 May 1915, Page 5

LONDON NEWS.

CABINET RECONSTRUCTION IMPENDING^ * v m h FORMATION OF A NATIONAL GOVERNMENT SAID TO BE IN PROGRESS. DISAGREEMENT AT THE ADMIRALTY. LORD FISHER AND MR CHURCHILL. • RESIGNATION OF BOTH PROBABLE. THE NATION RESTLESS.> <.' TEMPERANCE REFORMER DI3rUiiJ*S MOUSE OJJ' COMMONS. IMMATURE SPIRITS RESTRICTION BILL. "THE SALVAGE FROM A WRECK." LONDON, May 19. The lobby i«, iua.pl;, rumors of impending brov^timenir changes'.! Some suggest, that a, war council will be instituted, including both parties. Tne .l'a»i Mail Gazette suggests Mr Asquith'as Premier and Mr A. J. Balrour as jj'irst Lord of the Admiralty.; TJie lattei"! has already done much work for the navy, having a private room at ttie Admiralty. Probably Mr Churchill will go to the India Office, Lord Crewe remaining as' President.of the Council; If Lord Kitchener goes to the front Mr Lloyd George ,ought to be War B,inis-, ■fceiytaad Mr' Bonar Lavr Chancellor of tlie Exchequer \ Mr Austen Chamberlain, Mr Smith, Lord Derby, and possibly Mr A. Henderson ajso joining the Cabinet. Lord Lansdowne's health prevents him joining. The Daily Chronicle states that a National Government is being formed. The resignations include Lord Haldane (Lord Chancellor), Mr L. V. Harcourt (Colonial Secretary), Mr A. Bircell (Lord Chancellor of Ireland), Lord Lucas (President of the Board of Agriculture), Lord Beauchamp (Lord President of the Council), Mr J. A. Pease (President of the Board of Education), and Mr C. E. Hobhouse (Postmaster-Gene-ral). Mr Bonar Law, Mr A. J. Balfour, Mr Austen Chamberlain, Lord I Derby, Mr A. Long, and Mr F. E. Smith have accented office.

The Daily Chronicle says Mr Harcourt (Colonial Secretary) is likely to succeed Lord Hardinge in India.

The Daily News admits that reconstruction is" possible, but does not believe the Opposition leaders desire a coalition Ministry.

The Standard says Mr Churchill's resignation will be followed by Lord Fisher's. Mr Asquith is strenuously trying to retain Lord Fisher without losing Mr Churchill. The Pall Mall Gazette states that. Lord Fisher did not approve of the eutrtloyment of the first fleet alon© in the Dardanelles, but did not put down his foot, so is involved in a common responsibility with the rest of the board. Lord Fislier then demanded a new method <vf .Admiralty administration, resuliincr in his resignation. The King pave him an audience ,on Saturday. Lord Fi-^er went to Scotland. The real trouble is +he impossibility of two K+.rong personalities workinpr tortethen The crisis has now mnde Mr Winston. Ohurchi^'s retention of his present post impossible, and necessitates tho formation ,of a National Minis+ry. The Gazette understands thnt i.«« chief Obposition leaders agreed v.'th the Government.

The Times, in.a leader, says rumors prevalent in London confirm the popular impression that the Government and the nation is restless, and possihly anxious. The Government is anxious beWse $ widespread searching criticism reftftfd&g ~66ftti'cl of-the war, and the nation is anXieiiS owing ib it£ I'ot being satisfied that tile Government is conducting the war with efficiency and success. Can one wonder at the doubts of the nation, which sees the struggle becoming fiercer in every theatre and hears vaguely of huge, casunlties in France and the Dardanelles. The facts about munitions caused much pertiirbation. The Admiralty is the chief storm centre, and there are repeated categorical charges against Mr Churchi'l of assuming responsibility and overriding expert advisers.

The Times adds: "We hitherto remained silent because of Mr ChurchiTs admirable administration before the war and also his prompt mobilisation of the fleet; but we can no lonsrer keep silence, because qualities which served then prove rash and dangerous consequences to the war. When a Minister persistently seeks to erasp power Avhich should not r>ass into his unguided hand?, it is time for his colleagues and the Cabinet to take definite action. It is necpssary that the technical conduct of the \v*)v should be entrusted to soldiers and seamen whom the country has conficlpTl^e in. One obvious solution of Me difficulty would be to put lord Fisher at the head of the Admiralty, a '^fiessity which could be settled without delay.

t The report- of the Belgian" CdmmissiQll'd enquiry into violations of in.terna" tiortfl? ijtr states that th£ Germane made a d@&d Mi.irt horses, and cleared the stud farms, idr which Belgium was noted. Officers and soldiers amused themselves "'.o>y bayflfteitjrig . valuable horses. Enoffnous qiiantitfete of produce, metals and chemicals were" &ti'ri!ed' to Germany. . ... Lord Derby, in a speech at W'i^tJi/ said the Jockey Club had told the Pive* mier that he had only to say the woid' and racing would be stopped immediately.

There is evidence that lemons and formalin have been used for the invisible writing found on Kuepferle (the spy now on trial) who also attempted to communicate by means of a letter with another German while in prison.

Sir John Simon intimated that he would read the invisible letters in camera.

In the House of Commons, Mr F. N. Char.rington, a well-known temperance reformer, rushed through, the door of the Chamber to the table, dragged the mace on the floor, and shouted: 'You have not the right to make " Before ha could say any more attendants and members seized him roughly and hustled him out of the Chamber, amidst intenso excitement.

Charrington, who gave up a large fortune in the brewing trade to engage in temperance work, sought to interview a member of the Hous© of Commons, and entered the Chamber. After his ejection he was taken into custody by the House of Commons police. Charrington explainer! h? wished to protest against the Drink Bill.

In the House of Commons, Sir- Edward Carson asked whether tEe Government would abolish thie German right of appeal in the* British Priae Court, remembering that Germany was asserting its right to- sink' merchantmen and murder the crews and passengers.

presenlett * only one v case, -the' Ophelia, 4 and it is considered Itest she should be I given an opportunity to explain the Ophelia's cnaradter. , Discussing the Immature Spirits Restriction Bill, Mr Lloyd George admitted the measure was battered ana was the salvage from & wreck. The proposal was tried! m Canada and was round, a 'valuable provision. In .Australia fc£«» consumption of immature spirits caused a violent form of drunkenness. Exp«i*J ments with mature spirits showed tiiaV men beca'fne drunk but friendly, whw another man given the raw spirvfe&.beeame violent ?and~> offeTtfsive^&nd as dieagreeable as any man who ever attckerf a Minister.