WAR REVIEWED

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume L, Issue 175, 24 October 1917, Page 5

WAR REVIEWED

STATEMENT BY BRITISH PREMIER PROSPECTS FAVbUBAIBMB • BT7T PEACE NOT YET IN SIGHT. [AiuiraHav and N.Z Cable Association.) ../ LONDON, .Oct. 22, * Speaking at the Albert Ball on the war outlook, the Premier said:_ ""W* must, all kno>v that it as essential for the, future of the . human race that a decision be reached now that brut* force must be dethroned, for ever, that our children shall hot be 'condemned to terrors which even the most vivid- imagination, dare not (portray. Such a settlement is not within immediate reach. Germany jvould only make peace now on. terms'which would enable her. to benefit by.tne present war, and that would be aii encouragement .for aby bucaneer ing empire in the future .to rdpeat the experiment. The failure of Napoleon taught. France ah unforgettable lesson, and a similar iesson must be burnt into the heart of every Prussian before tbi» war ends.

"The main questions of the war are not territorial adjustments or indemnities, but pre-eminently the question, is the destruction of the false, idea which intimidated arid enslaved Europe, or would, have dope so if had been triumphant. This year I had hoped we might have Droken the terrible power. We have been looking forward to a 'great converging movement -which would accomplish, that purpose. The> temporary collapse of the, Russian military ipower postponed our hopes,, but tim© i 9 on. our side. Two factors have contributed to it, the ad.veht of Ameri-ca,-and the .increasing failure of submarinisnr. , * Our monthly' shipping losses are now "riiaich over one-third of the ■losses recorded in .April. The losses of German submarine.-* have been more than three times- the losses for the whole of last year. Arrangements have been made ..whereby the British , shipping turned put, in 1918. will, be four times the total of 1916. America is doing the same. , ..

"Germany's enemies produce the world's fo6d supplies and raw materials, and even if the German war machine succeeded, which it will not, federation of free peoples could, bv withholding their products; reduce Germany to impotence and desolation, arid they would do so if necessary. However, the Allies must husband their resources until Russia recovers .and America is ready. vVe must beware of people "who are trying to sow dissension. The enemy on most of the battlefronts has organised with deadly care and! ingenuity an offensive behind the lines. I know what I am talking about. France discovered it in time. Look out for 8010-

ism in- all shapes and. forms. The enemy is attempting to divide the nations and pit one ally. against., another, ■but I am srlad to say the Allies are working with the greatest harmony. We are holding one of the most important military and .political inter-Allied conferences ever held, whose decisions will affect the whole course of the -war, and may determine the (ultimate .issue,"

POLITICAL CRISIS IN FRANCE

Rr-SIGivATION OF THE CABINET.

PARIS, Oct. 23, The Cabinet has resigned.

CABINET SITUATION.

(Rec. Oct. 24, 9.50 a.m.) PARIS, -Oct. 23.

' Following, a Cabinet Council, M. Painleve tendered "*he Cabinet's resignation to' President Poincare, who refused to accept it. pointing out that the Chamber on. Friday voted confidence in the Government.

The Ministers thereupon placed their resignation in the hands of the President of the .Council, who will examine the situation.

AIRRAIDS

BRITISH ADQPr REPRISALS TWO ATTACKS ALREADY MADE.

(Reutor's T«l«gram».)

LONDON, Oct. 22.

In the (House of Commons; Sir George Cave, Home Secretary, in explaining the late Zeppelin raid, said the- Government had already announced, their intention of bombing German towns 'until an end was put to such blood-thirsty attempts Upon the civil population of England. He added that two such British attacks iiad alreauy been made, and the House might be assured that the process would continue until tlig purpose was attained.

ZEPPELINS OVER FRANCE

HOW THE RAIDERS FARED.

STATEMENTS BY. PRISONERS

[Anatralisur and N.Z. Cablo Association,'

LONDON, Oct. 22.

A correspondent-with the French a* ones say's the crews of the super-Zep-pelins L 49 and LSO confirm the report that partook in the expedition against England. The fleet-, which numbered twelve, left their three ports separately. When thev reached England they were bothered: hy the anti-aircraft batteries and searchlights. They quickly dropped their bombs and, rose to a height of three miles, where they were caught by a strong ndrth-westerly and became lost. The cold was extreme; _ The motors .froze; the men were frost-bitten, and the alternators would not work, while it was -impossible to take bear ings. One captain at dawn thought he was over Holland or Westphalia. Then h»> recognised that it was French soil.

EIGHT RAIIDERS ACCOUNTED F0 1

(Reuter'a Telegrams.)

LONDON, Oct. 22

In addition to the five Zeppelin* whose fate has/ been mentioned, another was brought down between Sisteron and Gap, the crew destroying the airship before surrendering. - . •■*..' Two more are /regarded as doomed They were seen, drifting above Gap, orio of them being out of control. Thus, 01 the raiding fleet, it seem* reasonably certain that only the thre# ■which were reported over 'Holl&hd hav«» returned to Germany.

RAIDING ZEPPELINS

NUMBER DESTROYER UNCER- ] TAIN. {ATwrtar»Han and NjZ. Cabl* Aj»odia«*» (Rec. Oct. 24, 11'. 10. a.m.) PARIS, CTci. 25. It is still doubtful whether five or six Zeppelins were destroyed ~ in France. Four or five escaped to Germany, though it .is believed that the Zeppelin which landed sixteen men at Montigny-le-Roi now lies in the MidAlps; .. : German prisoners state that thirteen Zeppelins participated in the raid, of which- number eleven returned across France.

All the crews belong to the navy, there being no longer any land Zeppelins. The officers were arrogant and clainied a; special regime, and rooms at an hotei. They were .much , distressed when treated as prisoners. The officers and crew of L 45, which descended at Laragne, were captured by Madame. Dupont, a farmer's wife, but she was unable to prevent Captain Koeller setting fire to the machine by shooting at the Zeppelin with a. vrevblver. ,

STRAIGHT TALK BY MR SONAR .... LAW.

AiR DEFENCES OF LONDON,

BRITAIN NOT GIVING AWAY INFORMATION.

(Australian and N.Z. Cabl« AiiociatiJMM

(Rec. Oct. 24, 10.15 a.m.) ... J LONDON, Oct. 13. ' In the House of .Commons, critics of the London air defences .moved an adjournment in. order to discuss Friday's raid. * . ■ ■ Mr Chamberlain and Admiral Sir H. Meux advised the House to make short work of the motion.. . , : Mr Bonar Law he refused to help Germany by giving particulars of our methods of defending London. Of eleven Zeppelins,, only one came over "London. "The Air Service's view was that the mist did, not, save London, but saved the Zeppelin. If „the Germans ever smiled at, our way of conducting war, they would,.have a. happy time over the* British .House of Cpinmons stopping its business to make this fuss over the greatest air defeat Germany had ever suffered. Two raids upon German,towns with.,large populations had already take.n place. This is what Happened owing to the»pressure of one or two Commoners and the pressure of newspapers to find out "vrhat we were going to do:—lt was. a fact that, the Germans; who .knew,, the only quarter -vfhence the raids co.uld take place, had sent a flying squadron . to. await outfliers. Then they were ready to receive pur men. . ''The motion was withdrawn. The Daily Express comments that if bombing a town forty miles over the border, is what the Government mean by bombing .German towns, it is not What the public mean. The statement creates widespread • astonishment, and the continued lack of action is causing widespread discontent..

POB3SBLE CAUSE OF THE DISASTER

ZEPPELIN ENGINES FROZEN. AIRSHIPS DBrFTEiD TO FRANCE. IfAtwtraluui and N.Z. 6*bl« Awwoiation.) i(Rec. Oct., 24, 11 a-mj [ . * rARIS, Oct. 23. ! It is believed that, the Zeppelin en'girues froze wheti they- were out two hours, drifting over London, and that this was the real cause of the disaster, as it would be impossible to restart at a hisrh altitude! The Zeppelins then drifted to France,, and were forced to descend at dawn, when the French aeroplanes discovered them. THE CASUALTIES. .Australian and N.Z. Gabla Association , and Ranter.) ___ , (Rec. O'ct. 24,. 2.10 p.m.) Oct. 23. The Press Bureau gives the total casualties in Friday's air raid as : Killed 34, injured 56. _