THE ARMY ESTIMATES.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLII, Issue 11470, 23 February 1918, Page 5

THE ARMY ESTIMATES.

ENORMOUS WAR FIGURES.

CRITICISM OF LORD DERBY.

United Press Assooiati on—By Elec trie Telegraph—C opyright

London, Feb. 21,

In tho House of Commons, Mr MacPherson, in introducing the Armv Estimates, said that British captures in PUT include KW heavy uowitzers, (IS heavy guns, 4BT held guns. 105 a trench mortars and 252-1 jnachineguns. Tho labour corps now numbered ICO,OOO. et least 20,000,00 tons of shipping would be saved in UUS. During the year nearly 7,000.000 men. ViOO.OO'i) animals, 200,000 vehicles, and 0,. T00, 000 tons of stores had been conveyed to tho various fronts.

Replying to a suggestion that there o'ugbt to be an expert legal defender when a soldier who previously had suffered from shellshock, appealed against tliedeith sentence, Mr MacPherson said that considering the extraordinary numbers in the army of all classes and creeds, the executions for cowardice and desertion hail been the sin-Best in the world’s history. Amended regulations demanded that s 11 favourable facts should he stated regarding the soldier, who had fallen from grace under the stnin and unqncstionahly lie would receive British justice and fair play. Continuing,Mr MacPherson said that although the Allies wore at present superior in men and guns on tho West, front, the h dance would soon ho in favour of tho enemy, owing to reinforcements from Russia. Already over twenty divisions had neon transferred and we nuist he prepared for a determined enemy offensive. The necessary measures had been taken and complete confidence prevailed among all ranks, who were convinced that we would hold our own. Major David Davies demanded that Lord Derby he removed from office, he having “played tho fool” during the crisis of the past three months, in failing to stop the press campaign against generals at a time when they ought to ho collaborating at their utmost upon schemes of defence. Tho debate was adjourned.