Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-12-21
SUBMARINE PERIL
THING Of THE PAST,
DECLARES PREMIER
Says Russian Participation in
War Up to Present Would
Have Brought Germany to
Her Knees

LONDON, Dec. 20.-Speaking in the
house of commons today, David Lloyd
George, the British prime minister. said
the margin of losses at sea was narrow
ing. The sinking by submarines, he de-
clared, was decreasing, while ship build
ing. was increasing.
The premier said the sinking of sub
marines was increasing. Although the
merchant tonnage was down by 20 per
cent, he added, the loss had been only
6 per cent of imports over that of last
year.
Regarding the military situation Mr..
Lloyd George said it was idle to pretend
that the hopes formed had been real
lied This disappointment he attributed
to the Russian collapse.
The Germans, the premier said, had
had only one success, which was due
to surprise and this was now engaging
inquiry. The Germans. he stated, had
lost 100000 prisoners. valuable posi-
tions and hundreds of guns
The premier said that the losses in
shipping had been lighter by 100000
tons than he had anticipated in his
August estimate.
Complete restoration of the territories
taken by the enemy together with COM
pensation, was demanded by Premier
Lloyd George in explaining the war aims
of the government.
Russian Failure Hurt
The premier said that if the Russian
army had fulfilled the expectations Of
it's generals, by this time the pride Of
the German military power would have
been completely humbled.
On the whole, the British Campaign
had not achieved the expectations form
ed, he said, but there had been mill
tary successes in Palestine which would
have a permanent effect on the history
of the world. Jerusalem. he stated,
never would be restored to the Turks.
After referring to the Italian re-
verses the premier said IT would be nee
essary for Great Britain to make great
err sacrifices to strengthen its armies in
the coming year. The need would arise
to increase the nations man power by
taking some men now exempted
Food Situation
The premier's speech was delivered
when adjournment for the holidays was
moved in the house of commons this
afternoon. He dealt first with the prob
lem of food Two circumstances. he
said. had contributed lately to the grav-
ity of the situation--the failure to OBJ
tain margarine and butter from Hol-
land and Denmark and the fact that
England had been required to make sac
rifices in order to supply deficiencies
of her allies Owing to the efforts OF
the food controller, an Improvement was
visible in circumstances which had
caused SO much anxiety in the last few
days.
Germany Needs Food
Owing to the food difficulties in Ger
many, the premier went on, the physi-
cal deterioration of workmen there had
been so marked that the output per
man had been decreased by So per
cent.
As for the British casualties, Mr..
LLOYD George said they had not amounts
ed to more than one-fourth or one
fifth of the Germans. Opposed to Ger
many. Austria and their allies, he as
serted. were man power and reserves
more than double those which the Teu-
tonic allies possessed. The government,
he said. would confer next week with
trades unions on the man-power pro-
poSalS.