THE COMMONS RETURN THANKS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLII, Issue 10121, 31 October 1917, Page 5

THE COMMONS RETURN THANKS.

LLOYD GEORGE EULOGISES THE ARMY AND NAVY. (Router’s Telegram.) LONDON, Oct. 30. In tlio Mouse of Commons, Mr Lloyd George, in moving a resolution of thanks to the forces, said the deeds to which the resolution referred had won the admiration and gratitude of every subject of the King. No words wore needed to commend acceptance of the resolution. The Navy was the anchor of the Allied cause. If it lost its hold, the hopes of the Allies would be shattered. If the Navy had been defeated even a year ago our armies in France, Mesopotamia, Salonika and Egypt would have languished and finally for lack of support of men and material. Since the war the Navy had transported thirteen million men, two million horses, twenty-five million tons of explosives and supplies, fiftyone million tons of coal and oil fuel for the Fleet and Armies’ needs and for our Allies. Out of this thirteen million men. only 3500 had. been lost, of whom only 2700 hud perished through an action of the enemy. That estimate was apart from the prodigious quantity of food and other material, total* ling 130,000,000 tons, transported in ships. Referring to the Dominions’ part in the war. Mr Lloyd George said they had contributed between seven and eight hundred thousand men. Mo emphasised how well they had fought. THE WORK OF THE NAVY. HOW THE EXPEDITIONARY FORCES INCREASED. Received October 51, 10.20 a.m. (Reuter’s Telegram.) LONDON, Oct. 50. Continuing his speech Mr Lloyd George said there was not an ocean, sea, bay. gulf or estuary used for commerce which was not patrolled by the British navy, and the danger of (lie task was proclaimed by the casualties which, proportionately, were equal to those of the army, yet through it all tjie command of the' sea was maintained. Turning to the army he said the Expeditionary Forces had increased from 160,000 to over three millions. By the end of November, 1911 France was saved, but there was hardly a man left of the old army. The iceolution was carried unanimously. Ixird Cumin said Canada had sent 350,000. Australia 300.000. New Zealand 120.000, and South Africa 60,000. India’s confribution in some respects had been remarkable, for they provided troops for a much larger number of theatres of war.