MAN-POWER

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LII, Issue 160, 3 July 1918, Page 6

MAN-POWER

IMPORTANT STATEMENTS IN HOUSE UF COMMONS REDUCTION OF ALLIED RESERVES-. BASIS OF GERMAIN STRATEGY. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) {Rec. July 3, 11.30 a.m.) LONDON', July 2. The" House of 'Commons, on the motion for adjournment, debated the combi'ngout". of agriculturists. iMr R. E. Prothero (Minister for Agriculture}, amplifying earlier answers, -said he believed that we shall not lose much of the harvest owing to shortage of labour*, at any rate it is necessary to take 30,000 already called up, though other agriculturists will only be taken after harvest men have been combed out .Only 4 p.c of the total were employed on. the land.. When the German prisoners were added, there was more labour for agriculture than at '.November, 1916. • Dr. Prothero startled the House bysaying that men taken now would be in the firing line in the middle of September, which might be the most critical moment. Several speakers hotly denounced the suggestion that men would he given only three months' training. Mr Bonar Law said that most of the men were given three months' training at Home, though some were sent_ to France after ten weeks. The principle •was to give new troops at least, another month's training in France. No lads of 18 would be sent to the firing line. until they had.at least four months training. •'„ ' ccT . ~ ,Mr Bonar Law - continued -. ■ u ° l }- think we are in the last ditch, but the whole German strategy is based on an attempt to wear out reserves. It.is the Government's duty to make ceitam that we will not suffer such a defeat to render the 1918 campaign useless. The adjournment was negatived.

WESTERN FRONT. #Aui»tralian andlTz. Cable Association and Renter.) LONDON, July 2.2 p.m. A French communique says -.—West - of Chateau Thierry, a local operation executed in coniunction' with the Americans enabled uV to improve our positions on the front \aux-Hcll 204. I The Americans captured the vaßage of V*ox and a height westward thereof and over three hundred prisoners. !\Ve Taided between ,Montdidier and 1 " Novon and west of Rheims. T v, n „„ Enemy attempts near Belloy, Lppei . Alsace, ."failed. DEMURRAGE CHARGES. (Rec. July 3, 9.30 a,m.y 1 LONDON, July 2. ' An«-10-AustrafliaTi merchants have taken up the question of demurrage cSrgea dne to the alteration of steamer fixtures. They complain that afterfixtures had been made, tonnage *iiottea, -W goods sent forward, the fixtures - "had frequently been- cancelled ow«2 to the diversion of a steamer to more , Important duties **W i*™™& i hasVcurred on goods awaiting ship ment. Hitherto there has been no re- - dress. WAR PRISONERS' CONFERENCE. ' {Rec July 3 r - 11.10 a.m.) •The Daily Chronicle's Hague corres- .' pdident- report* that German ■ detefflites - . KeWar Prisoners' Conference have ' yet returned from Berlin .where - they have gone to consult with -theXSo-. vernment, particularly regarding Germans from China. CAILLAUX TRIAL.

and g-Z. Cable A^ociatibn.) y,Rec July 3, 12.50 p.m.) (,Kec. on > pARTgj Ju iy 2 fcegins on 16th July and will last at least a" month.