Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-05-26
LLOYD.GEORGE OPTIMISTIC
Continued from Pace One)

during the last 25 days is not exceeded.
'hen the reduction upon April will be very
considerable. Indeed there does no, seem
TO be any reason 10 anticipate any worse
figures in the coming week. The arrange
ments made for dealing with submarines
have been increasingly efficient
The premier then made his reference 10
American assistance which was loudly
oheered.
Il think the nation" Mr.. Lloyd-George
continued. has very good reason to con-
graduate itself upon the substantial i'm.
provement and, ! may say. Unexpectedly
early improvement in dealing with the
submarine menace
The Food Supply
Turning TO the food supply the premier
said: There is a distinct Improvement
in our food prospects as the result Of the
improvement in the submarine question
II is very difficult, however, TO give q
favorable answer which would not be
mischievous. II were 10 say there is no
danger OF starvation Of the people, l
would be saying What's the good of cut
ting up our grass land. and what's the
good Of rationinge
The people must not rush from one
extreme to another. We must appeal 10
the commonseanse Of the nation I say.
after taking counsel with my advisers
and after going into the figures very
carefully. that If the nation economies
and is not guilty OF waste, if those who
have got lands favorable for the produc-
ton of food make the best use OF them.
If the workmen turn out tractors TO ena-
Bile US TO pillow. if the army helps with
the men available-if, IN fact, we all be-
have like reasonable human beings who
want to save their country from disaster.
privation and distress, the submarine
menace is not one that need cause us anv
fear that the war is going TO be lost FOR
that reason.
II see that today the Germans are
depending mainly on submarine war
fare for success" said Mr.. Lloyd
George. An l can say is that if that
is their main hope of success it is
doomed 10 disappointment. / say il
with a full sense of responsibility and
on behalf of the government, after
full consideration of the whole facts.
That does not mean that the people
need not economic. that farmers need
not plow their land. 1t means that if
everyone does his duty the German
hope of triumph in the war based on
lation in the whole series of miscalcu-
lations of that stated empire. If ev-
eryone does his duty periodically, each
in his own way. to the common stock.
then l say the submarine is not go
ing to defeat us
In reference to the labor situation.
Mr. Lloyd George said the government
had taken steps to deal with the pres
ent labor unrest in the country and
prevent future recurrence. The ter
mination of the engineers strike af-
forded a good opportunity for review
ing the labor position. That dispute.
happily. had ended. but there had been
great unrest in certain quarters.
The government has its views as
to how this has been fostered." he
said. but at the same time there are
some genuine grievances which assist
ed the designs of those with Interior
motives. The government. therefore.
appointed commission to inquire into
industrial unrest and report upon the
operations of war emergency measures
regarding labor"
1t was proposed to divide the coun-
try into seven areas. Mr.. Lloyd George
continued, and to appoint separate
commission for each of these areas.
The government hoped to obtain the
services of a labor representative. an
emplover and an impartial third per-
son to constitute each commission.