, 1916-07-19

gigantic navy, aud Altlng and equlpplng
them occupies the energies Of a million men.
Every month We are turning out hundreds
of guns ard boWitzers, light, medium, and
heavy. Our heavy guns are rolling IN at
a greater rate and We IRE turning out nearly
twice as much ammunition III a single week
and what is more, nearly three times as
many heavy SHELLS "a We fired III the great
offensive in September although the ammunl-
ton we expended in that battle was the
result Of many weeks accumulation. The
new factories and workshops we set up
have not yet attained one third of their full
capacity, but their output is now increasing
with great rapiditY. Our main difficulties
in OF ganIzation, construction, equipment,
Iabour suppiy and reimbursement have been
solved. If officials, employers and Workmen
keep at it with the same zeal and assldulty
as they have hitherto employed our supplies
will soon be overwhelming. l ctnuoi help
thinking that the improvement IN the Rus
sian ammunition supply has been one Of the
greatest and most unpleasant surprises the
enemy has sustained. Still our task is but
half accomplished. Every great battle fur
nishes additional proof that this is a war Of
equipment. More ammunition means more
victories and ioUer casualties"
London, July I3tb.-Ihe Marquis CT Lans-
downe replying in a written statement to-day
to Mi. John RedmoUd's charge that his
apeech in the House of Lords on Tuesday,
was u declaration Of war against Ireland, an
nounced that his speech was made after con-
sultotion with MI. Asquith and other mem
bers Of the Government. "IM making my
statement" he writes cas- TO the permanent
character of certain provisions Of the amend
ing Bill / did not intend to 60, and l do not
consider TINT | did go, beyond the declara-
ton made by the Prime Minister IN the
House of Commons, that the union of six
Counties with he rest of Ireland could only
be brought about with, and could never be
brought about without, the free-will and
consent of the excluded areas. My state
ment with regard to the Government OF Ire
land during the interval which must elapse
between the present moment ard the pas
sing of the amending bill, presented what l
believed to be the views Of the Government
and wore made after consultation with the
Prime Mininter and others of my colleag-
ues." In Lord Lansdowne's speech on
Tuesday be declared that the amending Bill
would mako structural alterations III the
Home Rule Act of 1914, while provisions
were merely temporary. This statement
evoked a passionate protest from MIR. Red
mond who declared that it indicated d gross
insult to Ireland. Mr.. Redmond asserted
that 'f this speech be taken US representing
the attitude and spirit of the Government
towards Ireland there is an end to all hopes
of settlement"
Paris, July 14lh.-The Germans made two
attempts last night to storm French positions
north of the Aisne at a point south of Vile
au-Bois, but were checked by the French
nuchine- guns, the War Office announced.
On the Verdun front, artillery fighting con-
tinues in the Souvile sector. There were
no important developments on the remainder
of the front.
London July 14th.-11.19 am. The Brit
ish troops at daWn to-day broke into Ger
man positions on a four mile front i'll the re-
gion north Of the Somme and captured sever
al strongly defended localities, says the Off
eial announcement of the War Office. The
British attack was delivered on the second sys-
tenn of the German defences, says the state
ment, which adds that heavy fighting contin-
ues. The British captured Longueval,
Bazentin- le- Grand and the Trones wood,
says a Reuter- despatch. The British ad-
vance apparently constitutes the second phase
OF the great A~nglo-French offensive, in the
neighbourhood of the Somme river, which
began on July LIST. over q front of some
thing more than 20 miles. The first phase
of this offensive carried the British forward