New Britain herald., 1917-04-27
VICTORY IS NEARER,
 SAYS LLOYD GEORGE

nu0llOou EllCuuOlup uUllu mVIC ! Than Loss to Merchant Fleet "GERMANS BLACK PIRATES" United States Came to Conclusion It
 Was No Use Waving Neutral Flag
 in Teeth of Sharks-English Pre-
 mier Says at Guildhal
 London. April 27.-In an important speech at the Guildhall today Pre- mier Lloyd George discussed the mili- tary situation, the Irish question and other of the major problems with which the government is now en- gagged. The premier's speech was in acknowledgment of the conferring on him of the freedom of the city of London. Referring to Ireland he said:
 We must convert Ireland from a suspicious, surly, dangerous neighbor to cheerful, loyal comrade. Settle ment of the Irish question is essential for the peace of the world and essen- tial to a speedy victory in the war. I appeal to the patriotism of all men to sink everything for the one purpose of getting this question out of the way"
 MT. Lloyd George paid a tribute to financial community, through the help of which, he said, British credit ho lao inl o% the early days of the war. This conn., munity, he said, took ain honorable and leading part in the ordering of the vast war loan, which was the most remarkable financial exploit ever witnessed. After alluding to the organization of the ministry of mu- nitions. the premier said:
 Turning of the Tide.
 Now, thank God. our men have 8 real chance in the fight. The story now is very different than that of the early stage of the war. We have captured 400 guns. Regarding prisoners, we have taken at least ten to one. The tide has now turned. Victory is coming Increasingly nearer.
 During the first eighteen days of the Somne battle we captured 1000 prisoners and S4 guns. During the first eighteen days of the Arras battle our captures were IS, 900 men and 230 guns, while We gained four times as much ground. This means not only ultimate victory; it means victory is going to be won at less loss and our chances are growing as our equipment is improving, and the Germans know despair which has driven them to black piracy on the high seas.
 This is the next job to deal with: Our minimum problem is to feed g. population of 45,OOO,0OO in a country which is not self supporting to pro- vide the necessary material food to equip our armies and keep the seas free for thet transport of the troops for ourselves and our allies. This had to be done against the pirates moving unseen under the trackless seas, since the Germans determined to sink all craft fndiscriminately with out warning. There is no doubt we have lost many ships but they have brought America in, and I am per- fectly satisfied with the balance. America, after great patience, came to the conclusion there was no use waving neutral flag in the teeth of a shark and she is definitely with us to put down this menace once for an.'
 ''The best brains of America and Britain are concentrated on this prob lem. There never was a human problem which was not solvable and l. don't believe this is an exception; but we must not proceed on the as- sumption that nothing could be dis covered to put it down and that is where the public comes in."
 Dealing with the effort of the gov ernment to make the country self-sup- porting, the premier said that as result of the guarantees to the farmer and the farm laborer million fresh acres of land had been brought un- der cultivation which was equal to producing 100000 tons of food.
 II do not say that the war is go- ing to continue throughout 191S." 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 he knows that the longer he holds out the worse it will be for him peace will come much earlier''
 The premier said the government was taking steps for the harvest of 1918, and that if the plans were car ried out there would be 5000 900 more acres of land under cultivation and the government could guarantee with tons of foodstuffs coming from abroad no one would starve. But the country must help in husbanding foodstuffs.
 MOTOR VEHICLE COMMISSIONER.
 Hartford, April Ex-Governor Mar CHS Hnlcnnlh this afternoor