New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-24
Testing a Nations Grit

Testing a Nations Crit
The Prime Minister'S stirring speech in
the British House of Commons yesterday
contains much that will be received with
satisfaction in Berlin. He did not pretend
to make light of the serious situation ere
ated by the submarine war, nor did he
fatter the House with those vague assur-
ances used freely on too many occasions
by members of the former government.
Enormous sacrifices are needed" he said,
and he added the solemn warning that
otherwise there will be disaster"
1t was necessary to speak plainly, that
the nation might be prepared for the revo-
lutionary reforms designed to meet the
present emergency. In some measure, in
deed, the nation must have been prepared
already, for the government had already
foreshadowed a certain number of the re-
strictive measures by voluntary appeal
But though it was hardly to be expected
that the desired results could be secured
by voluntary means alone, the sudden in
PRODUCTION of so many drastic reforms
must have staggered many of Mr.. Lloyd
Georges hearers.
IF such programme is carried out"
was his assurance, England can face the
enemy's worst" but he made it clear that
salvation could be found in no other way.
The food stocks of the kingdom were lower
than ever, tonnage entering British ports
had fallen by 40 per cent, as compared
with the figures of the year before the
war, and there was dangerous shortage
both for civil and military needs. Nor did
the Premier offer any false encouragement
to the House when he came to speak Of the
submarines. The government hoped" to
get the better of them, "but it does not
follow" he insisted "that we should rest
on this hope only"
1t was known, of course, that Great
Britain had to bear the heaviest response
bility of all the Allies at sea. Nearly a
wear ago, when the lack of mercantile ton
mage came to be a cause of grave anxiety,
the people learned that more than five
hundred ocean-going steamers had been
dedicated to the exclusive service Of
France. Italy and Russia. Yesterday Mr..
Lloyd George made it known that the ton
mage taken over by France alone amounted
to at least a million. This is an essential
part of Britain's contribution to the COM
mon cause, and it is reasonable that
Britain should contribute more in this way
than any of the other powers. In SOL
diers her contribution is relatively small
as compared with that of France or Italy,
and equivalence of sacrifice is mani
festly requisite.
II is all a question of the proper dis
tribution Of the nations man power, and
that is what is aimed at in Mr.. Lloyd
Georges measures that as well as proper
provision against the immediate threat Of
starvation. No time is TO be lost: the re-
strictions are to be imposed at once, with
out further debate. A minimum wage is
fixed TO insure a sufficiency Of workers on
the land, the Food Controllers powers are
enlarged to provide against speculative
buying, importations are cut down ruth
lessly in order that the country may not
run short of necessaries, the output Of the
breweries and distilleries is further cur
tailed, and food prices are established I'M
der government control.
There is an appearance almost of des-
peration in some Of these reforms that will
doubtless be enlarged upon in the German
press. But even in Germany thoughtful
observers will not fail to see in them evil
dence of a new determination that con-
trasts favorably with the easy, drifting
policy of the late ministry. The old foolish
cry of Business as usual" is forgotten,
and for the last desperate struggle the
government Is resolved TO make the ut
most demands on the nation. Here, as Mr..
Lloyd George said, is test of the ma
tons grit, nor is there any reason 10 doubt
that the nation is with him.