LLOYD GEORGE REPLIES.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 699, 8 May 1916, Page 8

LLOYD GEORGE REPLIES.

CRITICS REFUTED. A STIRRING SPEECH. j LONDON, May (>. ■ Great interest was taken in the 1 meeting at Conway to-day, when Mr I Lloyd George replied to recent at- ' I tacks made upon him. Applications '! for seats exceeded the actual seating | accommodation fourfold. The newspapers at Home and abroad made I special arrangements for reporting j the speech. Mr Lloyd George, speaking at Con--1 way, said that the task on hand was not for one or two parties, but for the whole nation. It was necessary [to preserve absolute national unity vmtil national triumph. The sole ' condition of victory was unity. In I a month's time he would give an ac- ! count of his stewardship, after a ; year's munition work. Meantime, I he could say that the output of miii nitions, also the capacity to furnish ; further supplies, had been enorI mously increased. i The nation's achievement in raising huge voluntary armies was something of which it might well be proud. It was almost unparalleled lin history. The numbers diminishj ed at the end of the summer, and it | became clear that they must resort |to other methods. There was no in--1 dignity in compulsion, which simply ! meant that the nation had organised i itself for war in orderly, consistent, resolute fashion. We could not run a war like a Sun-day school treat. We could' not make the same contribution in men in proportion to population as France had made, because we were supplying France and our other allies with steel, coal, and explosive material. Still, there was | a considerable margin of men if the j need arose for increasing our armies. j Women were coming in larger num- | hers to the rescue. There were | nearly 300,000 women in munition i works. I "I believed, and I still believe, that the necessity for compulsion ■ arose in September," said Mr Lloyd ■ George. "I admire Lord Derby's j colossal efforts, but the Derby j scheme was not voluntary, and posl sessed many of the disadvantages of \ compulsion and voluntaryism, withj out cither's advantages." He denounced the base, treacherous, personal intrigues of those who alleged that he was capable of advancing his own ends, when he was bent on winning Ihe war. ITe was glad that his clandestine surreptiI tious assailants had been forced j into the open. He had been subject- | ed to a cloudy discharge of poison j gas. "If any man," he said, "believes the testimony of a person who invents private conversations in order to malign a friend, I seek neither his friendship nor his support. I have | worked with Mr Asquith for ten I years most harmoniously. I would ] have ill requited Mr Asquith's great j kindness if I had remained an au- | lomaton, not expressing my opinions | freely, candidly, and independently. IA counsellor professing constant agreement with his leader is only betraying him." He viewed war with haired, therefore he wished this to be the last, bul it would not be last unless it I were effectively conducted. Time was not our ally. Time was a doubtful neutral, and had not yet been won over to our side. The Allies were united, but their design and co-ordination left much to be desired. Austria ami Germany were pooling all their forces, brains, and efforts. We possessed the means, but | the Germans too often possessed the | methods. "Let us apply their cf- | forts to our means, and victory is certain. Trust the people; tell them what was happening. There is nothing to conceal. Our people are courageous; they will respond with enduring steadfastness, devotion, and faith." A unanimous vole of confidence was carried. Mr Lloyd George afterwards addressed an immense overflow meeting. SUBMARINE WAR. STEAMER'S GALLANT FIGHT. TACKLES TWO RAIDERS. LONDON, May 5. The Clan Line steamer Clan Macfadyen encountered two submarines in the Bay of Biscay. The first tired (50 shells at a range of 50 yards, hitling the Clan Macfadyen several limes, but not seriously damaging her. The liner, which was armed with a big gun, replied, and several of her shots hit the submarine, which is believed to have been sunk. A second submarine, three hours later, fired a torpedo, which missed the liner by a few feet. I The Clan Macfadyen is a .steamer of 281 (i tons gross register, built in ISO!) and owned by Messrs C'.ayzer, Irvine, and Co.. Ltd., of (Hasgow.l I MR HUGHES BUSY. •AN EXTENSIVE PROGRAMME. LONDON, May 5. Mr Hughes has gone to Wales, and will return on Monday. He has had further conferences on the freight and metal problems. He has not decided on the length of his stay in England. He hopes to respond to invitations to visit Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, Bristol, Birmingham, and York, and would like opportunities to address Labour circles to follow up the policy he will submit to the Paris Conference. This depends upon whether his return to Australia will be urgent, or whether he can be spared for a longer period. Mr Hughes will attend the Sugar Producers' Conference on Tuesday.