Great Britain

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 26, 22 December 1917, Page 5

Great Britain

NAVAL AND MILITARY SITUATION. Press Association—Copyright, Australian and N.Z. Cable Association London, December 20. . Mr Lloyd George addressed a lull .House on the naval and military situation. He first touched on the.-fouJ problem, which two circumstances aggravated, the first being the faibne to get butter and margarine from Holland and Denmark, and the seco.id the Allied food shortage being greater than anticipated. For these reasons Britain, was compelled to sacrifice some of her own resources in .order to supply her allies. The responsibility rested with those possessing stocks of tea, margarine, and butter, to ensure a fair distribution. The people did not mind the shortage so much aB -the ' suspicion that others were getting more than their share. He hoped it would be unnecessary to control the large multiple stores, aud if they took steps to secure equal distribution there would be no need for the queues and the discontent which they created. Mr Lloyd George said the food question was steadily improving. Although they were unable to obtain adequate labor or steel for shipbuilding, this was being remedied. Construction was increasing at a greater rate in 1917 tban in the boom year of 1913. Since June the shipping losses had decreased steadily. Our margin of loss was now narrow. The estimate of our shipbuilding programme was not quite realised. Although the tonnage was down 20 per cent., the loss of, tonnage of imports was six per cent, compared with 1916. Thus, really they had .grappled with klip' most menacing situation with which the nation had been confronted -luring the war. Practically the whole of the nation's shipping had been requisitioned. A Blue Book states the sinking of submarines is increasing.

LOOKING BACK. BRITISH PREMIER'S REVIEW. Press Association—Copyright, Ausira liau and N.Z. Cable Association (Received 8.50 a.m.) London, December 21. Mr Lloyd George said that regarding the situation it is idle to pretend that our hopes at the beginning of the year have been realised. The disappointment was attributable entirely to the Russian collapse at the beginning of the year. The Russian army was better equipped with guns, machine-guns, aeroplanes, and ammunition than ever before j nevertheless, the Germans had not even held their own on the West front, and it the Russians had fulfilled expectations the pride of Prussian military power would have been completely humbled. The Allied successes in 1917, the captiire of Bagdad and the surrender of Jerusalem, will have a permanent effect on the world's history. The capture of Jerusalem, which will never be restored to the Turks, had rightly or wrongly added more to the prestige of the British Arms than any event in the war. THE SIDE-SHOWS. Some people said that these were only sideshows, but the British Empire ovfed a good deal to side-shows. Despite the fact that the Germans were able to use. the East front as a rest-cure for broken regiments, they had only one success, due to a surprise, which was now the subject of an enquiry. The Germans lost over 1000 prisoners, 100 guns, and valuable ground. Despite our very conspicuous victories in Flanders, the Frdnce on the whole had not acheived expectations. One great eve"*- of the year was the advent of Amcr'-a into world politics. Another memorable event".,was the creation of ail intei'ila-tanai council at" Versailles,

thus seting up for the first time the machinery of a League of Nations. Tiie council would have a greater effect in international volutions than anyone now imagined. So far, it had been a conspicuous success. It was itself free from friction, and it had helped to remove friction. Undoubtedly, the situation became more menacing owing to the unexpected defeat of Italy, and, secondly, to the Russian armistice. The Anglo-French forces had been sent to Italy's rescue with a celerity which greatly surprised the enemy. If our troops had not arrived with such remarkable rapidity, one could not have guaranteed what would have happened. Their advent not only strengthened Italy's armies, but helped Italian morale to such a. degree, that the troops scattered in Northern Italy had volunteered to return to the ranks.

The Anglo-French assistance was triumph of organisation. The Italian situation was now largely restored, but the defeat had made the ivlitarv position more anxious for the AngloFrench in the direction of making a great drain on the man-power.

ANOTHER "SCRAP OF PAPER,"' Russia had been quiescent for the past few months, but was nominally warring and keeping considerable Aus-tro-German forces on the East front. The armistice had altered the situation. Although it was true that the armistice had imposed on Germany the obligation not to remove troops, we had heard of "Scraps of Paper," and the country now relying on the Germans keeping that obligation was the country which had not profited by the experience of these facts and had cast fresh obligations on the other Allies. RESPECTIVE MAN-POWER.

Tt was absolutely necessary that. Britain should make greater sacrifices to strengthen the army in the coming year. With a view to increasing the supply of men to the army, it was necessary to ask the trade unions to consent to an alteration in the pledges given owing to tiie changed conditions putting a greater demand on the Nation's' man-power. This step was unavoidable, because we must draw upon our reserve manpower rather than send back to the front men badly wounded, which would be unfair and intolerable, while men stayed home who had never gone to fight. The Government also wanted to meet the needs of shipbuilding and agriculture. Sir Eric Gecldes would next week explain the position to the trade unions, and the Government would, immediately after the adjournment proposed, ask the Powers to raise the men required tinting the next few months. There would be much decrying of the war because one great Power had practically gone out, and another great Power was not fully in. Our burden would be great, but we must not imagine the enemy has no difficulties. The physical quality of the German workers had so deterioated that the output was thirtythree per cent, less than in 1914. Germany was using up her reserve manpower. In France she had lost heavily. The Italian losses were not comparable with those of Austria, while the British losses were only a quarter or a-fifth of Germany's permanent losses. The Allied reserve power was more than double the reserve of all the enemies. Time, and tonnage only were required, and the enemy knew it. CHALLENGE TO THE CRITICS.

Mr Lloyd George proceeded: A great deal has been made of the complaint that the Government had not fully stated the war aims. He would repeat the points of his Glasgow speech, and ask the critics if they would challenge any of them. First, there w*jk a demand for the complete restori/*'!) ' , the territories Germany had conquered, with reparation for

tin- damage. If Russia decided to enter into separate negotiations, she must look after her own tenitories. Her action also -disposed of the question of Constantinople.

Second, there was the question ol Mesopotamia. That must be left to Ihe peace congress provided Mesopotamia and Armenia were never again subjected to the blighting and blasting i Silence of the Turks.

The third point wna that the great , international peace congress must set- i 1 tie the question of the German colonics and have regard to the wishes [and interests of the inhabitants. We stood by that principle, which be had already laid down, that the congress, must settle all these questions upon the principle of respecting the desires and sentiments of the people them-, selves, the confidence which the Ger'man rule inspired, and whether the colonists desire their former masters 'or to entrust themselves to others. The wishes of the peoples themselves must be the dominant factor in settling their future government. We j : had conquered no country wherein ithe population belong to the ruling race.