A YEAR OF WAR.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVI, Issue 16922, 30 July 1915, Page 7

A YEAR OF WAR.

MR ASQUITH'S REVIEW.

NATION'S DETERMINATION.

TRIBUTE TO ALLIES.

Dy Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright'. LONDON, July 28.

The House of Commons was crowded in anticipation of the historic resume of tho war. Mr Asquith, however, after justifying the adjournment on tho ground that the members of the Commons were not going holiday-making, said that many were going to duties even more important than those at St Stephens. Mr Asquith declined to make a lengthy detailed statement on the present situation or tho future of the war.

Mr Asquith. in moving tho adjournment until September 14, said that the success of the war loan had done tm truck as anything to convince tho world, and particularly our Allies, that avo are determined to devote tho whole of our resources to a successful prosocution of tha war. Since the outbreak of the war the Press, with one or two melancholy and notorious exceptions (loud applause) had discharged its duties with admirable restraint. Tho members of the J louse of Commons had also discharged their duty and had advanced their criticism in an admirable, patriotic manner. Mr Asquith, justifying tho adjournment, alluded to the enormous increase in tho number of questions, which put an intolerable strain on the State departments.- He regretted that the action of tho House of Lords had necessitated the postponepent of the Pension.-. Bill until after the adjournment, when he hoped it would lie carried with general consent. Meanwhile tho pensions allowances would continue as before.

The war would ho a contest in endurance and Britain _ would be ungrateful and insensitive if she did not recognise at this moment tho indescribably gallant efforts of our Russian Allies to stem the tide of invision and to maintain inviolate the fntegrity of their position. Ho thought that in tho whole of niili-

tary history there had not been a more magnificent oxamplo of discipline and patient endurance, and both individual and collective initiative than that shown by tho Russian army during the last eleven months. Mr Asquith said that tho Italians wore steadily gaining ground, making their way towards an objective which, ho believed, would shortly bo within their reach. As for ourselves and the French, wo had been lighting side by side for a year. JIo did not believe that, there had over been armies inspired with a more complete and a more unreserved spirit of fraternity and comradeship or with more confidence that victory would ultimately be theirs. Our confidence in the Gallipoli operations is undiminished, and mtr i naval position is now far stronger than it was before tho war. Serious as the submarine menace might appear for tho moment, it was not going to inflict a fatal or a substantial injury on British trade in food and raw materials, which were coming in as in times of peace. Tho recruiting for tho army was highly satisfactory, and the latest bulletins were amongst tho best tho Government had had for a long time. The production of munitions had been organised on a basis which would be adequate for our requirements. 1 Reviewing the twelve months of war, Mr Asquith asked whether there could be a greater calumny than to suggest that the. British people had not risen to the heights of a great occasion. (Cheers.) But it was still a greater calumny upon the Allies to suggest that, they did not realise or appreciate to the full tho contribution wo arc making to the ultimate triumph of tho common cause. Concluding, Mr Asquith said :—‘ Let none give encouragement to tho faint-hearted, still less to backbiters, who aro doing what they can to dishearten our Allies and encourage our enemies. Let all continue in the spirit which has inspired the efforts of the past twelve months, and persist and persevere to tho immediate triumphant issue.” (Prolonged cheers). ADDITIONAL ARSENALS. Mr Asquith said that as a result of tho conference at Boulogno the Government was setting up ten additional arsenals. SOME QUESTIONS. DISSATISFIED MEMBERS. LONDON. July 28. In the debate following Mr Asquith’s motion. Sir J. H. Dulziel moved as an amendment that the House of Commons should adjourn for a month. Ho said that ho was not satisfied with the position in Flanders. He had understood that there was to liavo been a great advance in the spring. He also wanted to know why so much notice had been given to the Turks by the fleet’s Ixunbardme.nt without tho co-operation of laud forces. It was impossible to keep silent any longer, as he bad not the confidence in tho Government which he had had nine months ago. Mr Lloyd George had said the war would have been practically 'over already if there had been adequate equipment. If so. who was responsible? . Had anyone been cashiered ? Was it still the Government’s policy to use gas against the enemy? If'so, why the extraor 1 - dinary delay? Moreover, nothing had been done to deal with tho cost of living, which was the root cause ol’ the discontent leading to strikes. Sir A. B. Markham, seconding the amendment, deplored Mr Asquith describing critics as backbiters. Mr Asquith intervened and said that the expression did not refer to members of the House. Sir .T. H. Dalziel’s amendment was not pressed. -Mr Asquith’s motion was carried. MUNITIONS. MR LLOYD GEORGE MAKES STATEMENT. MACHINERY LACKING. RESOURCES TAXED FOR SOME MONTHS. LONDON. July 28. Mr Lloyd Georgo made a statement on tho progress of munitions. He paid tribute to a number of business men who had given their services. His work was two-fold. .It consisted of speeding up tho existing contracts, and of opening fresh sources of supply. More work had been allocated than could bo digested. A census of machinery in the. United Kingdom showed that only a fifth ol' the machines eraploj'ed on Government work were used by night shifts. The arrangement of two or three shifts dally in order to employ these machines would enormously increase the output. The Ministry, by arranging co-operative areas, had greatly increased the prospect of receiving sufficient shells for the Army. Within a few weeks sixteen national factories had been established. Under this scheme of national factories it would bo. possible to produce cheaper shells, with better control and less difficulty regarding labour. These national factories would bo working side by side with private firms. Steps would have to be taken to creato special factories to increase tho component parts of shells, also machinery and tools, of which hitherto there had been an alarming shortage. The new great programmes arranged at. tho Boulogno Conference would considerably tax the engineering resources of tho country lor some months. In the course of a few weeks the output of shells would be doubled to enable us to cleave a way lo victory.-- The men wore working liard. He warned plotters to keep their hands and tongues off tho Ministry of Munitions and begged to he allowed to get on with the work. (Cheers.) Within a month thousands of highlyskilled workmen who had enlisted had l>een released, and Lord Kitchener had arranged that many thousands moire should return to the engineering shops in the next few weeks.

Mr Lloyd George said he regretted that at present he could not make a very satisfactory report regarding tho relaxation of trade union rules and practices. The suspension of these practices would be equivalent to adding hundreds of thousands of men to these yards, i He liad been unable, to make the men realise how vitally important it was without giving figures, which he dared not give. Mr Lloyd George pointed out the solemn undertaking given that, trade union rules relaxed during the war would be fully restored in peace time. The Government also had given an undertaking that rates of wages would not bo reduced if the output was increased. Mr Lloyd Georgo continued that he had established an inventions branch in conjunction with Lord Fisher's board. During the past month men and women munition workers had increased by forty thousand. Nearly half were skilled. A hundred thousand voluntary munition workers had enrolled. Tlio bulk belonged to the engineering and shipbuilding trades. Eraployerrs had raised objections regarding eighty thousand of tho volunteers, and a body of business men, representing the various trades, now was investigating the protests. The Ministry of Munitions would bo satisfied if it could uso twenty thousand volunteers, as it would mean industrial disaster to move men wholesale about tho country.

COMPULSORY SERVICE.

! DISCUSSION IN HOUSE OF I COMMONS. | (Received July 29, 8.50 p.m.) ! LONDON, July 28'. The Hon F. Guest raised a discus* sion in tho House of Commons on compulsory service. Mr Tennant, in reply, questioned whether any real necessity for an alteration in tho voluntary system had yet been demonstrated. Hp did not wish to close the door on compulsory service. Thei Government was prepared to achieve tho successful issue of tho war oven though it sacrificed thci last man.

Tho Right Hon Ellis Griffith said the country was prepared for any sae-> rifice. It was for tho Government to tell evory man that sacrifice was required.