SECRET SESSION

Nelson Evening Mail, 14 May 1917, Page 5

SECRET SESSION

DISCUSSION OF NAVAL AFFAIRS. > Anatraii*.B k3'-4"N.Z. CaW*^- &*nt«j*«aoo and Reuter.j LONDON, May 12.It is officially/ announced that the House of Commons in secret session considered the vote of credit of five hundred millions which- was- agreed::.to -in committee on Thursday. .'"V. -"V" - "■' -Mr A. F.. Wh'yte urged better organisation and co-ordination/ of the. high naval commands-.in the Mediterranean. V. Captain Belkrirs. pressed for a more vigorous naval;, offensive,- younger . personnel in. command', more rapid (approval, of, promotions, and a quicker- response to important .to • the Adrniraltyv ' .. - : '"/.-' ".",..• '. Sir H. J. DalzieL demanded'a .further appeal, country for economies offood.. He put a number of'questions' J:eTatirig to the war. •Sir Edward Carson, First Lord T pi the /Admiralty, welcomed. instructed ■_• ticism,- but deprecated..attacks outside the, House, : sometimes arising; from- interested motives, » ( upon office'rs of thty Navy. ~ •*■'.',' V. -' ; ' :. t . ?'■'■; :'*-\- ■ .-': l )'":;S .Sir Edward' Carson, related ' some,, recent feats showing, the gallantry . arid resource Oi our patrols,, which' .account-; ed lor German submarines. He wished he could publish every one, and explained whyj in the higher interests of-the: wari it. was desirable to •refrjlih./ He urged a due sense of.' perspeciiiTe." iri; criticisms incidents;.' considering the vast area over" which the "operations of the Nayy: were carried, out. He; described the activity; the/ co-operation 'of "the Naval Air Service Jarid 'cqa^t;;patrolsi T .:arid ..the' attention given to :mercantil&\shinbuild-. ing. He detailed the-tonnage "losses id! the Allies arid neutrals in the last fliree. hibnthsv Hje -declined'to "alter the. form' .of publication of ; ' weekly losses j'';Upo'ri which the .Allied-had agreed.-; "He':em-, the 'great advantages-arising' (torn .Airierica's adhesion to. the Allied caused ' ''- ' ; '■."»'! ". .:.ii'. '-...ry. Mr "Winston Churchill referred with'' catisf action to the Chief'features -of the debate. Although he was not _ whollyconvinced by Mr Lloyd George's* speech he thought the demand for a secret sitting had been well justified. V '""•'"'.': "':". Mr Lloyd George/gave, statistics of the food reserve's. ' "Whilst favourable view of-the general situation, he urged the importance; bf;. most extensive cultivation of ;the!,land.. ~; .

The report" ofthe" eomrijittee.'s. .resphi-. tion was Vagreed tp...;;,.' .*''_;:<,..'.(• l '-;..'.,v*j. l -V-..