NOTES FROM LONDON.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 16039, 25 January 1918, Page 3

NOTES FROM LONDON.

THE CAMBRAI REVERSE. DISCUSSION IN PARLIAMENT. ATTACK ON SIR DOUGLAS HAIG. By Telegraph—Press Assn.-Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn. (Receved Jan. 25, 8.45 a.m.) LONDON, Jan. 24. In the House of Commons, Major Davies, in moving the adjournment, said that in view of the vigorous press campaign the Government should make a. statement regarding Cambrai in order to reassure the country. Disquieting rumours and the stories of officers from the front were causing misapprehension in the country and army. Nothing could be gained by a policy of secrecy. They had. been told conflicting stories that the sector was. thinly held a't the time of the surprise attack, that it was manned by entire divisions recently engaged at Ypres, that the higher command disregarded repeated warnings from the units holding the front, that' no preparations had been made against attacks, that French reinforcements near by might probablv have been available if asked for. Major Davies opposed an inquiry as tbe Com-mander-in-Chief was alone responsible for any military disaster in France. Mr. ‘King criticised Sir Douglas Haig and urged the appointment of a new Commhmlor-in-Cliief. Replying to Mr. Kennedy Jones, Mr, MaoPherson said that nothing could he crueller than attacks of. this sort on probably the most distinguished general of the time when he had no opportunity of defending himself, while leading one of the greatest armies in the world and coping with the greatest difficulties in the world. Ho unhesitatingly said that Sir Douglas Haig had never-lost'the confidence of the Array Council and M r ar Office. Mr. MaoPherson admitted a breakdown at Cambrai. The General Staff knew on November 28 that the enemy contemplated an attack on the 30th. He could not go beyond that. Mr., Bonar Law made a statement, and said that if Sir Douglas .Haig had not initiated the inquiry, Major Davies would have been the first to cavil. The breakdown was not the fault of the General Staff. The disposition of the troops were good and reinforcements were also ready. The M'ar Cabinet had decided that no one in the Higher Command was blameahle for the reverse, which could not have been avoided. There was a* breakdown atr a- particular point of the lino but there was: no saliefit there. There was an inequality 'of forces nt a particular part, despite the fact that the General Staff took'all necessarv precautions. The Government did not intend to publish the report.

THE LABOUR CONFERENCE. ADDRESS BY THE PRESIDENT. / _________ LONDON, Jan. 23. Mr. Purdy, in his presidential address to the Labour Conference at Nottingham, said that peace by negotiation while Germany occupies foreign territories would mean aI German victory. If Germany did not accept President Wilson’s and Mr. Lloyd George’s terms wo must fight on. Germany could no longer claim she was fighting a defensive w-ar. There had not yet been a sign that the enemy was willing to accept the principles of Mr. Lloyd George, President M ilson or Labour. Mr. Purdy continued: "Would the German democracy define its war aims and face the Government as we have faced our Government ? The way is open to Germany, if the German people and Government sincerely desire a just peace in place of an agreement. The present conditions mean fastening militarism more strongly on the people of Germany and the peoples of the British Empire and the world. We must have a clean peace. If it is only obtainable by fighting, we must go on fighting to the Hugoman, secretary of the International Socialist Bureau, said that if the moderate democratic war aims or tne Labour Party were presented to an international Labour Conference, then the Austro-German Labour Party would be compelled to declare its war aims, and it a general agreement transpired lighting would be paralysed.- . •, Mr Henderson moved a resolution v eicoming Mr. Lloyd George’s and President Wilson’s war aims statements, so far as they harmonised with Labour aims, and requesting that the Allies formulate their aims at the earliest passible momentjJa order that they, may btS-Plac-

ed side by side with a similar statement which the democracies of enemy countries have been requested to make The resolution, was practically unanimously carried. ‘ Mr. Henderson, in a circular to the Labour delegates, recapitulates Labour’s war aims, and adds that all the Socialist parties in Europe now agree with the Bolsheviks, and so docs President Milson's published statement. RAPIDLY GROWING EXPENDITURE. LONDON, Jan. 23. In the House, of Commons, Mr. Bonar Law said the daily average of national expenditure for the seven .-weeks ended the 19th inst. was £7,500,000, exceeding the estimate by £1,150,000 daily.

BONUS TO MUNITION MARKERS. LONDON, Jan. £3. The Press Bureau reports that the M'aY Cabinet has-decided, from January 1, to pay a bonus of 7f per cent, to all piece-workers engaged in munition work, except in the iron and Kteol trades, provided any bonus or war advance, which in the case of time workers is merged in their recent grant of 12i per cent., shall also merge in the present bonus for piece-workers. A special conference is being called of employers and employees in the iron and steel trades to consider the form this bonus shall be applied regarding the settlement in these trades of 12j per cent, bonus. ARMY APPOINTMENTS. LONDON. Jan. 23. | In the House\)f Commons, Mr. J. I. I M‘Pherson (Secretary to the. Wor Office), confirmed the statement that Lieut.Goneral Sir Henry Lawrence, will be Chief of the General Staff in France; Colonel Q. ML Cox to be Brigadier of the. Intelligence Department; Lieut.Gencral Travers Clark, QuartermasterGeneral. The changes are not in consequence of the Cambrai report. HORSE FLESH AS FOOD. LONDON, Jan. 23. It is reported the authorities are encouraging the slaughter of horses for food. THE METAL TRADE. . (Received Jan. 25, 8.45 a.m.) LONDON, Jan. 24. The Non-Ferrous Metals Bill passed the third reading.