Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-01-19
.G|LL|ES Tells
Of CONDITIONS
|N0LDC0UNTRY
Ottumwa Lawyer Reviews
Experiences While Abroad
on Legal Business
ENGLAND MAKING
MUCH AMMUNITION

MUCH AMMUNITION
Attorney George L. Gillies Of Ottum-
wa, who returned today from q two
months trip through the British isles.
believes from conversation which "a
mad there with men in touch with tho
country's affairs, that England expects
the present European struggle to close
some time next summer and she aIso
expects to be victorious.
Mr. Gillies says that equipped a fa
is In his small way as a stranger to
know what really, will be done. he can
not help but believe that ENGLAND n
united to man for a eight Ia vine.
struggle. S.. n
Such munition plants and such prep
aratons as are, being made in that
country today are unimaginable, &C.
cording to the local lawyer. He says
ne saw one factory which was mile
long and was told that in the prohibit.
ed district In. Scotland, where no one
is allowed, there are plants which are
n1teen miles from one end to the 9th
ser.
Mahy IN service.
England now has over 1000. 900 men
in the field and 100000 of these are
In France alone. A man regarded AZ
an authority for his statements, tolc
the Ottumwan that It is costing tha,
country more than 324 4,00O, 900 day tc
carry on the shrugged But, this same
man adds, they do not regret the mon
ey. they claim they have plenty or can
easily enough get it, but it is the cream
OF their manhood they hate to see 70
down.
Among the first to enlist and 70 for
ward to fight for their king were hun
dreds ~and thousands of youths from
the nobility. rich lads and students
from OxfordS and Cambridge. Lord
FAsquith's son died .ssoHa1s.sE
France and many 3 HGl:isI Iils:x
Mr., Gflliesras Sex1m3Qe6 81 sals. 15f
men who are giving III. II lives for
their country.
Another thing which impressed tho
local attorney was the apparent abso
lutte unity OF satisfaction with LLOYD
George and his policies Mr.. Gillies
says scarcely a word is heard raised
against the present premier. Much
was said against the Asquith adminis-
tratfon. Most Of the people thought
it was too slow.
scorn Peace Move.
The Ottumwan was still in the isles
when the peace move was the question
Of the hour.
Most OF the men he talked with said,
President Wilson has done nothing to
help us, now let him stay out Of 1t and
let us finish it,
However, the local attorney did not
gather just the same opinion as his
fellow traveller. H. L. Edmunds, local
real estate man, who returned several
weeks ago on the consideration given
America by England
Mr.. Edmunds thought that the Brit
ish resented any interference on this
country's part and looked with scorn
upon America for what was called her
"unneutral attitude" in the contest.
Want to Be Friendly.
Mr.. Gillies thinks the English want
to be friendly with this country. Ac.
cording to his observations, their atti-
tude seemed to be that the relations
between the two countries was of too
long standing to be severed by any
misunderstanding. They feel that the
flesh and blood tie is strong. too
When asked about speech made by
a member Of parliament against Amer
leans in the hearing Of the two Ottum-
vans, another prominent man said to
er was not an authority. So it goes,
says the local lawyer.
Ireland Quiet Now.
~ re ha <rt sv,fn To-
Mr. Gillies has to discuss is the condf-
ton in Ireland today
The terrific insurrection and upris-
ings Of the Sim Feins or home rulers
on last Easter Monday would be for
gotten about now as far as the peaeo
and quiet which reigns In Dublin II
concerned.
But there are beautiful homes. pal
aces, buildings and monuments sti1
standing, gutted by flames, torn by
shells and splintered by the hre of the
machine guns, grim reminders of the
struggle of the weeks last spIlng.
Women Everywhere,
Mans place in England has surely
been taken by woman according to
Mr. Gillies.
The women are everywheH. In the
street cars and on the omnibuses they
are conductors. at the railway stations
they are the ticket takers, in the the
aters they usher and in some places
the Ottumwa man saw them rustling
baggage and serving meals on the
trains.
Raids Small Matters.
Mr.. Gillies thinks the English have
the German zeppelin raids about
downed.
He says the number of searchlights.
anti air craft and airplanes to fight
them in London is immense. One raid
was made on England's capital while
the Ottumwan was on the islands but
small damage was done.