Nelson Evening Mail. SATURDAY, MAY 18, 1918. THE WAR.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LII, Issue 114, 18 May 1918, Page 4

Nelson Evening Mail. SATURDAY, MAY 18, 1918. THE WAR.

WHAT must be regarded as, in many respects, the most notable book of the year, as it is certainly the most unique, was issued at Home towards the end, of March. Its title—"The War CabinetReport for the Year 1917"—is most unimpressive, but nevertheless its 250 pages must be of deep interest to every intelligent person, for they contain "an attempt to' survey the. Governmental history of the year 1917 a-? a whole." "Governmental" is a term which in such a year covers an enormous field. This chronicle gives a detailed record of the many activities at Home and abroad, of the Imperial Government, and of the naval, military, and civil services which it controls. The book touches not only every feature of the war so far as Britain is concerned, but also the effects of the war on the social fabric and organisation.

As is explained in the preface, the book does not supersede the annual reports of the various departments of Government work. It gives, as it were, a bird's eye view of them all. "There are times," it is pointed out, "in the histor yof every nation when events shape themselves so quickly and with such significance that a" trustworthy contemporary record is of special interest, not merely to posterity, "but even to those living at the period itself. Such a time was the year 1917." The War Cabinet, therefore, decided that "an official account of these developments might be useful to Parliament and the nation, and gave instructions that a general report on the year 1917 should, be prepared." The Cabinet's enterprise should be abundantly rewarded in the universal welcome given to the book.

The proceedings of the British Cabinet are, as a rule, closely guarded. There is no jjreat revelation of them in this chronicle of the year, but the veil is lifted sufficiently to give an idea of how the War Cabinet works :—At each meeting the Cabinet begins by hearing reports as to the progress of the war since the preceding day. « Unless it wishes to confine. its' deliberations to general questions of policy, it then proceeds to deal with questions awaiting it.q decision. As these questions in the vast majority of cases affect one or more of the administrative departments, almost all its meetings are attended by the Ministers and, their chief departmental officials concerned. The majority of the sessions of the War Cabinet consist, therefore, of a series of meetings between members of the War Cabinet and those responsible for executive action at which questions of policy concerning those departments are discussed and settled. Questions of overlapping or conflict between departments are* determined and the general lines of policv throughout every branch of the administration co-ordinated* so as to form part of a consistent war plan. Ministers make free use of the rfght to bring with them to Cabinet meetings experts from their own departments or from outside. Besides the members of the War Cabinet themselves, consisting of the Prime Minister and six colleagues, the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, the First Sea Lord of the Admiralty, and. the Chife of the Imperial General Staff attend at every meeting to cive the latest intelligence in regard to the war and to consult with the War Cabinet on questions that arise from day to'day. Under this system the War Cabinet held more than 300 meetings in the year, a fact which, in itself, it is claimed, "indicates the great change which has taken place in the work of the Cabinet."

Much attention is being directed towards the conditions reported within the enemy countries. It should he kept in mind that the three months before harvest in blockaded' countries are the worst periods of food stress. During that period the stocks laid up from the production of the last harvest season are beginning to run low, and owing to the demands made for keeping the armies well fed. inefficient labour used in farming, and the decreasing productiveness due to the necessity of the successively cropping of areas-of cereal-growing soils. the shortage each successive year of the war, has become more pronounced., Much of the grain secured l in Roumania and Russia will be required to make good the recurrent and increasing shortage. It is reasonable to suppose that

discontent and despair are growing in Germany. Proofs are provided by the. voice of the Liberals in the 'Reichstag and by the whole of the Liberal press in Germany, the outspokenness of the papers being decidedly daring in character in a . country where, the press is so servile to the official jackboot.

•Matters being as they are, the Bei'Hn < rulers .must.-.not only secure food for the actual sustenance of the people and the jj armies, but must secure enough to re j i

move as far as possible one of the main springs of the discontent which is agitating Germany politically. In Hungary in the country districts there is a fair amount of food, though by no means an overplus; but for a long time the Hungarians have refused to surrender to either Germany or Austria what at a pinch could be spared. They are looking well ahead, and! are not inclined to accept German victories at the value the 'Germans put upon them.