The sun., 1916-12-02
|RUMANIA INCIDENT
ONLY, CECIL'S VIEW
Minister Of War Trade Says
Conflict Must Be Decided
East and West.
Is SECONDARY
Admiral BeresfOrd Sees Britain
in Position Of "Unpar-
alleled Gravity"

LONDON. Dec. THE war must be
fought to a military conclusion on the
west and east fronts. with the blockade
playing only n secondary part" said
Lord Robert Cecil, Minister Of War
Trade. in discussing the latest Develop
ments In the world conflict.
The condition Of Rumania.' Lord
greet. But there IL no reason to suppose
the operations there will affect the re-
suit OF the war. which must be fought
out on the main fronts. TIL condi-
tons under which we will accept peace
overtures remain the same As outlined
several months ago"
Asked concerning the origin Of the al
legation In the Morning Post editorial of
last Tuesday that Germany q offered
the Entente Powers generous peace
terms In return for a free hand in Gen.
trail and South America. Lord Robert
Cecil said
''Of course II Is well known that Ger
many had very definite ambitions in
Central and South America even before
the war. but l am nawar Of any peace
having been offered US on the terms men,
toned by the Morning Post. We have no
knowledge that such overtures ever had
been made here
Admiral Beresford sees Crisis.
We are In q position Of unparalleled
gravity" said Admiral Baron Beresford
in an address to-day at a meeting to sup
port a stronger naval policy. THE
crisis of the war IL now.
Since enemy submarines have trans
ferred their activities from the head
lands and shallow waters to the blue
sea the menace requires new strategy
and new tactics to deal with II, but 70
far no DEFINITE and systematic methods
have been taken for suppressing the
menace.
| THE Germans are now going to send
submarines to the Pacific and to wher-
ever British trade routes are"
Baron Beresford advocated continual
aerial attacks on the German base at
Zeebrugge and the arming of merchant
men. and continued
1T IL a most unsatisfactory state OF
affairs. Thousands of tom OF food
which were waiting to come TO England
have been diverted to Germany"
The meeting adopted a resolution call
ing for q more effective blockade and
for more eficient measures to deal with
the submarine question.
British Navy Policy Denounced.
Strong foundations OF the Govern
ment and Its naval policy were a a,
the meeting. which was attended by rep
re%sentatives Of the shipping and mercan-
tile community OF London.
Thomas Gibson Bowles. who followed
Baron Beresford. made a vigorous in.
d.ctment OF the Government. demanding
new men and a new mind at the Ad.
miralty. He liken.d the Admiralty to a
Jericho whose walls had fallen TO the
trumpet announcing this meeting" Mr.
Bowles added
Unless the submarine menace Is deal
with. we shall be blockaded az well al
Germany. and privation and famine
prices will ensue. ! can see no glimme
OF an overture for peace. but II over
lures for an honorable peace should com,
with sufficient guarantees. II will be thu
duty of the Government to examin,
them. | have arrived at the conclusion
however. that this Government Is n,
more able TO make peace than II is Il
make war"
The speaker demanded its dissolution
declaring that the present Coalition Min
istry was the creation OF a Parllamen
more worn out than II was itself. Thu
speeches were punctuated with shout
Of Turn them out" aud simila
phrases.