Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-05-23

per cent. below those for the seven
months ending July 1914
The cost OF living has unquestion-
ably advanced; but this is set off 20 a
large extent by the increase in wages.
which with many classes OF workers
are higher than ever before.
Mercantile Marine.
Great Britain's .pre-war tonnage OF
mercantile marine was approximately
2l,OO0,000 tons. Up to date there has
been lost by seizure in enemy ports
by submarines. and by mines 100000
tons, or SIa per cent of the total
Against this loss can be credited 700
900 tons OF enemy shipping seized and
enemy shipping chartered from the
Portuguese government, making the net
deficit about per cent, without TAX
ing into consideration new tonnage
created subsequent to August 1914. The
greater part Of the losses were sustain
ed before the navy had successfully de-
visel means of combating submarin es,
and by seizures in enemy ports. As the
enemy has only succeeded after two
years warfare in making a net reduc
ton Of D per cent. a conside IRA BILE per-
Tod of time will elapse before the mer-
camille marine OF Great Britain Is seri-
ously affected. About 80 per cent. of
the mercantile tonnage is now employ
dupon military operations and II
per cent. is In the service of our alliesf
Germany has lost 90 per cent. OF her
mercantile marine, and the remainder
is not operating upon the high seas.
Political
At the outbreak of war a liberal gov
eminent, under the premiership of Mr..
Asquith, was in power, which govern
ment would have expired by limitation
in January 1916 Owing to a generally
accepted feeling that war could not be
prosecuted to the best advantage bdy a
party government, a coalition govern
ment as created in May 1915, In which
nine conservatives were included in
the cabinet. The leader OF the Irish
party was invited to join the cabinet:
and although he did not see his way
to do so, the Irish party. under his
leadership, has loyalty supported the
coalition government.
BY agreement between the great
parties forming the house of commons
truce to all measures of a contro-
versial nature was called-and has been
kept. All the important war meas ures
have been passed by general consent.
The greatest of them all, the second
military service bill, by which, all men
between the ages Of eighteen and forty
one are subject to military service Gun
less exempted by statutory trbunals),
passed with only thirty five dissent
tents
The !!fc CT parliament was prolonged
in the first instance until September
1916 and now has further lease of
life until May 1917. From August 1914
until August 1915 parliament has been
In almost continuous session. and has
enacted an enormous amount of legs-
lation of an unprecedented nature
Finis.
Great Britain was calm in the days
of her severest trial. She is calm today
She knows that she has only to pre-
to attain ocmoplete victory. When that
ayd arrives she will have It in her
power to exact retribution for the rape
of Belgium. the massacres Of Serbia,
Poland and Armenia, the deporta tons
from Lille the foul muredrs Of Nurse
Cavell. Captain Fryatt, and many CT
villain men, women and children. Great
Britain will be just but inexorable The
people will see to It thar the great sac
rifices that have been made by every
family. from the highest to the lowest
have not been made in vain. In the
meanwhile as the duration Of hostil-
tiles is unknown. Great Britain IL max
ing preparations for "A long war. and Il.
not leaving to chance anything that
human foresight can provide against
as she is fully alive to the tremendous
Issues at stake.