Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-11-11

son to believe expenditures during the
next Two months would exceed 5,000,-
o0o pounds daily. SO that the new vote
of credit might he expected to last TO
the middle of February.
Returning 10 the question of public
economy the Premier said that the
matter had attracted the attention of
the government and the cabinet for
several months. AS result there had
been much closer investigation of
army contract prices, and there had
been a revision Of the scales Of the
army ratiUnS.
Regarding contracts, said the premier.
arrangements had been made between
the allied governments to avoid compel
ing against one another. either in the
home market or in foreign markets and
thus keep down prices. Where there
has been reasonable ground 10 suspect
that excessive profits We're being earned
by contractors prices had been reduced
10 reasonable level. This was only "a
beginning. but he hoped these steps
would lead TO substantial economy with
out prejudcing the effective prosecution
OF the war
The war office, Premier Asquith con-
tinued, already had taken steps to secure
more favorable and coordinate prose-
cuton of the the part of the al
lied powers by Strengthening the British
general staff and establishing more init
mate inter communication-not sporadic,
but normal and habitual-betWeen the
military and naval advisors of all the
allied powers. His own views had been
much strengthened by what he had seen
during his two visits to the front as TO
the importance Of interchanging officers
between the war Office and the army in
the field so that all might experience
trench fighting and all the novel opera
mons TINS war mas introduced. Sir Arch
ibaid James Murray, head of the general
staff, was about to appoint as his assist
ant General MITCHELL and the premier
SAID ne was satisfied that the staff now
at the war office was far more numerous
than the public WAS aware, was compes-
ed Of very able distinguished officers
no less than % OF whom had had actual
experience III the present war.
with regard 70 the relations between
the British staff and those of the allied
powers it would he great mistake the
I premier SAID. tu suppose mat they had
been living IN waterIcht compartments
without communicating with one another
There was British military attache
Ill French headquarters and distin-
guished French officer III attendance at
the wal' Office III London, while Arrange
meltts now had been made for more init
mate cooperation and for the inter
change of views from common develop
meut of pans for all the military opera
lions IN the different theatres of wer.
a distinguished French staff officer the
premier said will be in daily commuhi
cation with the general staff at the Brit
lsh Wa, office and Great Britain is send
inc 10 France officers entrusted with
like mission.
.lt Il more than possible" added the
premier that this organization may he
stni further developed"
French Cooperation
Il am hetraying no secret, contln'
ucd the Premier, when ] say that the
distinguished man who now holds the
post of Prime Minister of France -
anxious-and / am as anxious as nc ls
that we should develop the system
| of informal occasional conferences,
which have taken place in the last few
months with great advantage lnio
something more definite and better or
! SANITATION something in the nature
of commercial war council. on which
Shall SIT ministers of the crown ano
ministers of the republic, which VIII,
| with the expert advice of their united
general staffs. control and direct OR
conjoint military and naval opera
tons
| q do not place any limit on the ex-
tent to which this cooperation viii
! be carried and we shall he only too
delighted if Russia and Italy join us
| for the purpose have Indicated.
| The adjournment of'the House hav-
! ing been moved TO enable the debate
| to take place. Lamine W. Evans,
Unionist member for Colchester, ex
pressed surprise that the prime min
| lister had NOT given the House q com
! prehensive survey of the financial
policy instead Of details of the daily
! expenditure. He suggested that the
government should mobilize the ns
| toms assets and ascertain exactly
| what foreign securities We're held In
the country and if necessary. submit
to their being requisitioned by the
government for the purpose Of sup
porting national credit.
Leifcheld Jones was confident thai
great economy could he effected by
the supervision of contracts. Henry r..
Duke, Tnionist, condemned the extra
vagance of the public departm ents.