VICTORY ON LAND AND SEA.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 10060, 3 May 1915, Page 6

VICTORY ON LAND AND SEA.

LARGELY A QUESTION OF MATERIAL. MR. LLOYI) GEORGE ON THE DRINK DILL. LONDON, Ma.v 1. Mr Lloyd George in his speech on the Drink Bill declared that the Allies possess a great supply of the finest quality of men and sufficient reserves to overwhelm any enemy. The problem of victory on land and sea is largely a question of material. When the time comes the Allies will drive the enemy out of Flanders and France. The expenditure of munitions must be on a scale unprecedented in any war in history. We were straining every nerve to increase the production of munitions without which the armies, with all their gallantry, could not hope for complete victory. Everybody at first agreed that drink was the evil, until they were faced with remedies, and then they alleged that the evil was exaggerated and declared that it was no worse than in peace time. "This is not peace time, and if we can afford slackness then we cannot now," declared the Chancellor. "Let us look facts in the face. True optimism is the horizon of courage; false optimism is a veil of cowardice." The consumption of wine had fallen 25 per cent since the war and the additional spirit duty of 3s 9d reduced consumption 30 per cent. If the additional 14s 9d would have the same effect we should achieve our purpose.