Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-11-11
Leading Englishmen at Lord
Mayors Banquet in London
Declare Germany's Strength
Is Ebbing.
BAlF0UR lAU]S THE NAVY
Declares There Never Was a
War in Which the Operations
of Allied Fleets Were More
Essential to the Land Forces
Than the Present Conflict.

London, Nov. 9.-The annual banquet |
Of the Lord Mayor of London was cele-
brated in the Guildhall tonight, Sir
Charles Cheers Wakefield having been !
inaugurated during the course of the
day. All the city officials, many |
members of the government and the
diplomatic representatives attended.
The only difference between the
function tonight and those of other
years was to be observed in the cur
tailment of the customary sumptuous
menu. one more appropriate to war
economy taking it's place. and the
presence of many of the guests in mill
tary uniform.
| Premier Asquith. his wife and
daughter were cheered when they en-
tered the hall. and cheers were also
given for the Serbian minister and for
the representatives of the allies, not
ably the French and Italian ambassa-
/ doris and the Russian Grand Duke
Michael The high commissioner of
New Zealand the Hon. William Thomas
Mackenzie, brought his son, who was
blinded while serving in the Darda-
nelles, and the young soldier was
given an ovation.
The Earl of Derby, director of re-
Icruiting, was warmly received as was
also the Belgian minister.
! When the toast The King" was
given the assembly rose and sang the
national anthem, which was never
done before.
Mr. Balfour, speaking for the army
= w o1 CT tag ~ tho
allies was based upon the allied fleets.
Never was there a war in which drama
tic incidents connected with allied fleets
| were fewer. never was there war in
which the operations of the allied fleets
| were more essential to the land forces
Their fortunes would have been very
different had it not been for the fact
| that the allies from the first took COM
mand Of the seas.
mo historian in the future might say
that there was a moment when the CAL
| cuations of the central powers We're
near realization. Their campaign the
first spring. which might have been fatal,
was foled; it was many months since
any success could be claimed by the
Germans on the western front. and 1t
was two months since there had been
any advance in Russia"
Mr. Balfour could not say whether the
war would be long or short; he could
not tell whether it was going to be de-
cded in the east the west or the south:
he would make no forecast of military
and naval operations.
The pause in the war meant that the
tide of the enemy successes had reached
its limit. and what they had to look for
ward to was the ebb, SLOW or fast-but
ebb. all the same.
One great success the central powers
might claim. said Mr.. Balfour, but 1t was
not a military success. 1t was a diplo-
matte success Undoubtedly. the betrayal
by Bulgaria of all her traditions. under
the leadership Of the King. was
, triumph for German diplomacy. and had
important military OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
; sequences which he would be the last to
, minimize The rulers of Bulgaria. he de-
cared were animated by two simple
, motves-greed and fear-and when they
were dealing with rulers of a certain type
greed and fear We're great and powerful
motives.
Premier Asquth in the course of his
remarks alluded to the seizure of the
Globe newspaper by the authorities
AT critical moment" he said, I'VE
found a journal which thought fit to cir
culate a malignant and malicious lie. To
talk of the freedom of the press in such
connection Is to be guilty of travesty
of the noble wachword The press of this
country, with two or three notorious, but
neglible exceptions has shown a fine ex-
ample, and the government has ralued its
cooperation.
| The government was anxious to intro
duce into the censorship such modifica-
lions as experience might suggest. but an
important incident occurred. ] ord Kitch-
ener, secretary for war; at the request
OF his colleagues had gone to Paris and
had had fruitful conversations with the
premier and war minister there.
He has gone thence. | hope for a
short time only" continued the prem
Ter. ito survey at close quarters the
, situation in the near east He takes
with him the complete confidence of
his colleagues and countrymen. He
takes with him the authority of a
! great soldier and administrator, with
an unrivalled knowledge of the Near
East I have every reason to know
that his mission is regarded with UNI
qualified approval and warm sympathy
by our allies"
Mr.. Asquith said that all the allies
, had resolved to secure for Serbia the
future her sacrifices well deserved.
He spoke of the skill and courage
with which the army of Italy, under
the eyes of it's gallant King, is push
ing back the Austrians step by step
| and every week is nearing its goal"
2 and concluded;
( BE the Journey long or short, We
shall not falter nor pause until we have
. secured for the smaller states of Europe
their charter of independence. and for
5 Europe itself it's final emancipation from
n reign of force"
. Baron Reading, lord chief justice, re-
t plying for the Judges, said that while
> he was in America, Joseph II. Choate.
that distinguished and famous Ameri-
Y can" had declared that. whatever the
D government might be he was not neutral.
\ and that out of the one hundred million
people of the United States ninety million
were for the allies, heart and soul"
b Sir Frederick f.. Smith. the attorney
= general. who also spoke. said there We're
legal contentious In the American note