THE PRESENT SITUATION

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLII, Issue 11610, 9 August 1918, Page 5

THE PRESENT SITUATION

REVIEW BY THE PREMIER.

ENORMOUS EFFORTS OF BRITAIN

London, Aug. 7. Inllie House of Commons, Mr Lloyd Georae, reviewing the war situation, said had the British Empire at the start of the war not decided to throw in its whole weight because international right had been outraged, the history of the world for generations would have taxcen a uew course.

Referring to 'the Navy’s services, Mr Lloyd George said that until the Navy was beaten Germany could never triumph. British naval tonnage, including the auxiliary fleet, totalled eight millions, compared With two and a half millions at the outbreak of the war. a; At least 1,500,000 men wore engaged in manning and maintaining the British naval and mercantile marine. Had submarinism succeeded, the war would have been ended by the threat of starvation. The Allies had been completely triumphant at, sea from the outset of the war. No effort on laud could have saved theni|not\vithst;3ndiug the countries’ enormous resources. For seagoing purposes and essential Allied needs six and a quarter million sailors and soldiers, including pre-war services, had been raised by Britain alone. If a similar proportion of the ■ United States’ population were j called to the colours, it would mean nearly fifteen million men. The Dominions had contributed a ■ million. }

DOMINION AID. Mr Lloyd Georgs dwelt oa the Talnable aid of the Dominions’ representatives, especially the Prime Ministers, at the Council-board. He recognised the Dominions’ anxidy to see their leaders for carrying On their affairs, but he trusted it Would be possible that they could Wfflain for some time longer, because their presence would be inrahable at grave decisions in reference to the coming winter and nest year.

Mr Lloyd George said India had Redone and a quarter million men Si oce the war commenced.

A GERMAN MISCALCULATION,

The Premier proceeded to describe |; le difficult conditions existing at he front on March 21st, when we "Ms faced by the flower of the Gerr* n army. The early enemy suc«sses caused very anxious moments wing t 0 Joses of men and material. ■* second German blow* might have rerwhelmed the British army. The jsffiier showed that the losses were Mt swiftly replaced. He mentionv ‘“8 unprecedentedly large num“Oignns and machine-guns at wwent in France. A series of GerAO miscalculations regarding the gjl 8 H army culminated in the ti« IvT *^ e T ea ting them in two of 9 three most sanguinary battles j, ‘, u ® tvar, leaving them in unsithy salients commanded by I-things in tenacious valour gj .0 Whole story of the British

THE splendid boys. Keferrincj to ladg of 1S i/ years, °i owing tu the great emergency, Uj, e ., Sent to France with a few its, !S ' training, he said the lads SW s^ nfc straight to the front, hctn > * T to face veterans and hß°hi° ns troops, to veterans ever aAr, mora courageously than who helped to save the >ast°^ t ‘! e *Hies from disaster. It w ] “rarhable f. that the Germans Qu p ‘he British army alone for Ptoh. m * oar mou ths, They would y come back, hut the reason GLORIOUS AID. George paid a warm l| 6 R .t° the French assistance to *»*»!«. El© said Focii had not M P TC 'd the enemy to a sfcand!iahl „ 0116 ot the most bril'•■'itn^? nter strokes in the war had ea the enemy hack. The danger ie a Uot yet over, hut he would man on the German a t Staff who coufd now think

Ludendorff’s plan of campaign could succeed in its objective of obtaining a military decision this year. He emphasised that the Allied "success was largely due to the rapidity with which their losses bad been made good, and American troops brought over. These were essential parts of the German miscalculations. After paying a tribute to the bravery of the American troops, Mr Lloyd George declared that another element in the success was the unity of strategic command, aud Foeh’s masterly handling of his reserves. It was too early to predict that the German efforts were exhausted, [because the Germans still had powerful reserve divisions; but thsir chances of the 31st March would never recur. America’s powerful aud victorious army in France would continue to grow until it was nearly, if not quite, as large as flip German army itself. Germany could never again maintain the same number of divisions as she previously had. She was now beginning to beg for Austrian support. Germany’s allies were disillusioned about German invincibility. The economic position of the Central Powers was desperate. Their harvest was not good, and theyfwere short of many essentials. Militarily' they Jml passed the height of their endeavours. THE RUSSIAN SITUATION

Mr Lloy'd George denied that we had behaved hostilely toward Russia. It had always’.been our policy to deal with the defects of the Governments, but it was impossible to ascertain from day to da}* what was the Government of a single Russian village. Recent events demonstrated that the Russians resented German authority. The Russians were increasingly seeking Allied esistsance. We would not hestitufce to render every help to enable them to achieve self-emancipation. The Czechoslovaks movement was a most remarkable one The Czechoslovaks only desired to leave Russia and come to the West to light for the Allies. The Czecho-Slovaks did not participate in Russian politics. We had sent ships, at the Czechoslovaks’ request, to Yladivostocr in order to bring them away, but the Bolsheviks, under German duress, refused to allow the vzecho-Slovaks to reach Yladivostock. He dwelt on this fact, because President Wilson’s action had been criticised for his decision, in conjunction with the Japanese, to send forces to Yladivostock for the rescue of the Czechoslovaks from the plight, through the organisation of German war prisoners, for their interception and capture. PEACE THAT WOULD SATISFY. Dealing with the question of peace, Mr Lloyd George said there were people in every country who regarded any 'effort fo make peace as dishonourable and treasonable. That [attitude must be steadfastly discouraged. He asked those wno only wanted an honoaranle peace whether this was the moment when such a peace was possible. Mr Lloyd George quoted well known facts to show* that the military caste was still predominant in Germany. Peace was unprocurable as long as they remained so. He believed in a League ofaNations, but its success would depend on the conditions unaer which it was set up. Unless those conditions were favourable, the Germans might say they were never defeated militarily, and would have won but for economic difficulties, wherefore they would henceforth profit. Every time [that u decision came to be taken, the Prussian sword would clank at the council table. Wbat was tb® good of entering upon §peace negotions under those condtous? Peace would come when we demonstrated to the' enemy that pow*er lay behind the justice which would enforce the decisions of the League