BRITAIN.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 March 1916, Page 5

BRITAIN.

IMPERIAL RECONSTRUCTION. DAILY. NEWS ON MR. HUGHES'VISIT London, March 12. Mr. Gardiner, editor of the Daily News, in the course of a character sketch of Mr. Hughes, says:— "He is not here as a picturesque figure, but as a representative statesman of Greater Britain called in to advise in the biggest work of Imperial reconstruction the world has ever seen. Australasia, a lonely and thinly-populated continent in the far away Pacific, saw Japan awaking to new power and ambitions, and even the United States, under President Eoosevelt's adventurous lead, was looking over the waters with dreams of Empire. It is not good to be alone in the world, and the old attachment of foal to dam has begun to burgeon into a new relationship. "Australasia has arrived at manhood and desires to le taken into the firm. The great war lias applied the touchstone of tremendous peril, and in a moment it was seen that behind the externals of the Empire was the vital indestructible solidarity of idea, motive and interest. The dominions themselves were astonished at the passion with which they rose to the heights of the great argument. The British Empire is revealed as founded on the rock of free institutions and fighting for British ideals against Prussian. The reconstruction of the Empire is the task of reconciling the liberty of the parts with the solidarity of' the whole for a common end. The idea of separation on the fundamental matter of defence is no longer tenable. John Bull must become Bull and Sons. Through the Imperial Parliament all the sister nations will be organised for a common Imperial policy. The Kaiser, who set out to destroy the Empire, has only rebuilt it on a deeper and surer foundation." v

NOTES FROM LONDON. LORD FISHER. SUPPORTED BY THE OBSERVER. London, March 12. Mr. Churchill interviewed Mr. Asquith yesterday and decided to return to the front to-day. The Observer says that if Lord Fisher does not return to his old post he ought to have absolute control of construction. He possesses an incommunicable and irreplaceable power of getting big things done in the shortest time. We must meet the incalculable, and he is pre-eminent in anticipatory vision and the audacity and imagination of his contrivances. "Does Mr. Balfour," asks the Observer, "suppose that any sailor is so well fitted to divine what is happening behind the impenetrable veil surrounding the new German construction." • MR. ASQUITH'S PLEDGE. - London, March 12. The Government promised Lord Derby that Mr. Asquith's pledge to married Derby recruits would be faithfully observed. Married men had been holding protest meetings. SCENE IN A THEATRE. CANADIANS CAUSE TROUBLE. The Weekly Dispatch says that 200 Canadian soldiers secured seats and ridiculed and stopped the sillv melodrama "The Love Thief" at the Queen's Theatre, believing that it derided Canada and Canadians. The disorder was not serious iintil the military police interfered and made many arrests, some soldiers being handcuffed. The disturbers had been previously warned on the parade ground not to interfere with the performance. Mr. Edward Sass, an actor appearing in the most unenviable part, interviewed, declared that the students' riot in Melbourne, when a coffin was lowered from the gallery, was nothing to this Some halfpennies were thrown on the stage and one struck a girl in the face.

MR. CHURCHILL ASPIRES TO LEAD A NEW PARTY. Times and Sydney Sun Services. Received Marcn iif, ft.3o p.m. London, March 12. The Daily Express forecasts that Mr. Churchill is unlikely to remain long in France,, if he returns there, because his mind is set on leading a new party to stimulate the Sovevument to a more vigorous prosecution of the war. ;i ' NOS-COMBATANTS. ".-■ London, March 12. The new no-combatant corps will wear its own badges and will he trained in squad drill and field engineering, but will not bear arms. The officers will be regulars unfit for general service. • S» : —. _ ,