The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-04-27
tide TURNED SAYS
| LLOYD GEORGE
VICTORY near
Despair of Germans Has
Driven Them to Black
Piracy on the Sea.
LOSS OF SHIPS Offset
BY GAIN OF AMERICA
British Have Not Lost Big
Since 1915 Taking Many
Prisoners.
(By Associated Press.) :.

London, April 27.-Premier Lloyd
George discussed the military sitaa-
tion, the Irish question and other
major problems with which the gov
ernment is now engaged in q speech
today at the Guild hall in acknow-
ledgment of the conferring on him Of
the freedom Of the city of London. Re-
ferring to Ireland the premier said:
1--WE must convert Ireland from q
suspicious, dangerous neighbor to a
cheerful, loyal comrade. Settlement OF
the Irish question is essential for the
peace of the world and essential to a
speedy victory in the war. appeal to
the patriotism Of all men who think
everything of getting this question out
OF the way"
Mr.. Lloyd George paid tribute to
the financial community through the
help which, he said, British credit had
survived the financial panic OF the
early days of the war. This commun-
ity, he said, took an honorable and
leading part in the triumph of the last
war loan which was the most remark
able financial exploit ever witnessed.
After alluding to the organization of
the ministry Of munitions the premier
said:
"Now, thank God. our men have a
real chance in the fight. The story now
the early stages Of the war. Before
June. 1915. we lost eighty-four guns
and q considerable number Of prison
ers. Since that date we have not lost
a single gun while we have captured
400 Regarding prisoners we have
taken at least ten to one. The tide
now has turned. Victory Is coming in
creasingly nearer.
During the first eighteen days of
4 = - aVAkrr
prisoners and eighty-four guns. Dur
ing the first eighteen days of the Ar
ras battle our captures were 1S,0e0
men and $50 guns while we gained
four times as much ground. This
meant not only ultimate victory; 1t
meant victory is going to be won at
less loss and our chances are growing
and our equipment is improving and
the Germans know 1t. That is the ex-
planation Of the despair that has driv-
en- them to black piracy on the high
seas. sE
.'This is the next lob we have to
deal with: Our minimum problem is
to feed sa population Of A6s s00O. 600 In q
country which is not self-supporting
to provide necessary material and food
to equip our armies and keep the seas
free for the transport of the troops OF
ourselves and our allies. That has had
70 DC uOu0 dkAAuSL LHO SWdTM w
pirates moving unseen under the
trackIess seas. since the Germans
determined to sink all craft indiS-
criminately without warning. There
is no doubt we have lost many ships
but they brought America in and am
perfectly satisfied with the balance.
America, after great patience. came to
the conclusion there was no use of
waving q neutral flag in the teeth of
a shark and she is definitely with us
to put down this menace once for all.
"The best brains OF America and
Britain are concentrated on this
problem. There never was a human
problem which was not soluble and
don't believe this is an exception to
the rule, but we must proceed on the
assumption that nothing could be dis
covered to put it down. and that Is,
where the public comes in" y
In dealing with the efforts Of the
to make the country self
supporting the premier said that as a
result Of the guarantees to the farm
er and farm laborer a million fresh
acres of land have been brought under
cultivation which was equal to produce
ing 100000 tons Of food.
II do not say that the war is going
to continue through 1915" Mr., Lloyd
George went on. "but we must take no
chances. We have taken far too many.
If the German knew that by holding
out until the end OF 1918 he could win
he would hold out but If ne knows
that the longer he holds out the worse
1t will be for him. peace will come
much earlier"