BRITISH PARLIAMENT.

Marlborough Express, Volume L, Issue 234, 13 October 1916, Page 5

BRITISH PARLIAMENT.

CONSIDERATION OF*. WAR CREDIT.

PROGRESS -.QF.:.;TKB WAR.;

ARTILLERY -ANT) AIRCHAFT •■■;■ SUPERIORITY.

LABOR'S SUPPORT OF "THE GOVERNMENT. , . ■ .

Australian and N^Z. Cable Association (Received Oot/ 12,-5.50 p.m.) BONBON, Got. 12.

In the House of. Commons, Mr A& quith, in moving ■ the war credit, said that the expenditure since". April Ist was £949,500,000. Confirming the forecast of July 24th, there was stili £100,500,000 in hand, sufficing to October 27th at the present rate of expenditure, which there was no reason for /assuming; would decrease in the immediate future. f The new vote would suffice till Christmas.

Dealing with the progress .of the war, Mr Asquith. mentioned that; though the weather ,in Syria, and Arabia did not allow of extended! operations, much progress been made with the railway to Eatia* The Senussi had been reduced, to iin- ( potence, arid Germano^Turkisih in-' trigue in western Egypi and the Soudan had been effectively cheeked. The most noticeable features on the Western front were the steady progress and the enemy's inability in every case to recover lost ground. Our artillery had won a. great .superiority, and our aircraft held! the complete mastery. The enemy's j heavy losses had. drained their resources and the continuous retiremeirD had destroyed their army's morale. Mr Asquith paid a tribute to tho achievements of Russia* •_ and • Italy. I Ti?.ere was complete intimacy aiid. i mutual confidence among the general staffs of the lour Powers, resulting in j a co-ordinated purpose and' effort, j Gratitude wiis equally due- to' the j smaller States. He concluded: "On the Allies' achievements the. /best i hopes of "humanity depend. They ! have given without stint or regret what they could least■"afford.-.. They \ have done so only as; the. price by j •which the'world can purchase, and hold deal- aftenvaa'ds thGf "pa^tectiori of the waak'.ancl supremacy. of rights | over foree t and the free'development j under equal conditions of eacihState. | great or small." V '■:'"-:/ \\ •'.. \ Mr G. G. AYardle, in lieh&lf of the j majority of the Labor' pajrty, said that they supported the poVernmerit" to-the utmost. T3iey: had! the ;most complete sympathy with every object enumerated by Mr Asquith., ■ Mr Holt complained of; Mr Lloyd George's interview with 'the; United ' Press of America, and of'Ms1 idea: of ! fighting to & finish. ' . ' .\ j Mr Lloyd George replied that there i was no difference be'tween-iJiirnsf^f and Mr Asquith.. Ho recalled^ Mr, A.squith's declaration ■■. that Prussia,'s military doimina.tion , must- be wholly and finally destroyed. .' Tihis, was a complete answer to- those who' were' trying -to spread, dissatisfaction .b/ asserting that he spoke only ,'fdr. himV pelf. _ The interview expressed the opinion of the- Cabinet, Its ■.military j advisers, and every Ally. .Neutral intervention would, have been a .military triumph, for Germany and a disaster to us. As W<or* Secretary ho had a *right to prevent disaster and the interview \v*is- timely,—how timely would be revealed", in due !

course. ; . '. ■■_ :;;, ':.'U! .-.- ■ Jlie -House adopted the! .credit vote