The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-06-25


 sion, M. Lloyd George warmly pro- testing against MT. Hogge committing a breach of faith in referring to a sec ret session. The incident was provoked by the premier defending his earlier statement that at the opening of the German offensive in March the con tending forces were as near as possible equal.
 Dealing with the happenings since then, the premier said the Germans had enor- mously exaggerated the losses they had inflicted on the allies, and it was just possible that the allies might be exag gerating the losses inflicted on the Ger mans What was certain, however, was that there had been a great drain on the enemy reserves.
 It was impossible, continued the pre- nier. to make computation of the rel atiye strength of the forces at the present date. The American troops were arriv- ing at a great rate and he should be very much surprised if in a compara- lively short time the allied strength on the western front was not greater than the Germans.
 The Germans were in the position of having to throw in their last reserves within the next two months, and lacked further reserves except by the most dras- tic combing from essential industries. There were indications that they were already resorting to such combing, which proved that the allies had inflicted heavy losses in the course of this campaign.
 SITUATION IMPROVING
 In the next couple of months, said the premier, the position would naturally hc an anxious one, but the allied position was gradually improving, and he could say without boasting, which would be folly. that the allied generals felt conh- dence as to the issue
 Turning to recent battles the premier declared that the enemy had intended to reach Compeigne, but had failed and were beaten back by the French army.
 The losses inflicted on the Germans un- doubtedly were very serious, and, on the whole, the premier declared, the last Ger man attack on the allies was undoubt- edly defeat, for the enemy failed to reach his objectives.
 It was quite certain that if it had been possible on the 18th of March to put before the allied and German leaders what the position would be on the 3d or June. the allies would have been pleased and the Germans profoundly dis appointed There was documentary evi- dence, said the premier, that the Ger mans expected much greater things than they 0aQ DeeH aDIc to dcHltNt
 RUSSIA IS MENTIONED
 With regard to Russia that country was in perfectly chaotic condition. One could hardly find the same government in any two villages. It was useless talk ing about the Russian government as 1T there were one government for the whole country That was one of the difficult ties that had to be dealt with There was de facto government in Moscow but also one in almost every other place, and conditions were changing daily
 q quite agree that it is to our inter- est and just and equitable to stand bY Russia-if Russia wants us to-" said the premier. Russia has been brutally treated by Germany. She has been ais membered and the treaties which Ger many concluded have not been respect ed 24 hours Tn defiance of the trea- ties, Germany is marching through Ukraine, the Don territory and Cdu- casia and will carry her march to the north
 ''No doubt these facts are getting we'll into the minds of the Russian people. The feeling in Russia some months ago that there was no differ ence between the allied and the enemy countries, but that all were striving greedi1y for territory, has disappeared. The Russians are beginning to realize what German miltarism means. Even the Ukrainian peasants are in revolt against German interference.
 HATE IS GROWING
 'I have been informed on very good authority during the last few hours that hatred for the Germans is sinking deeper and deeper into the minds of the Russian population. especially in the parts occupied by the Germans. My informant tells me that Russia is reader than ever to participate in any movement to drive the Germans from Russian soil.
 These things are full of hope out there are difficulties of access to Rus sia. The only country having access on great scale is Japan, but on this subject I doubt whether it can do good by saying anything.
 WORD AS TO ITALY
 'Perhaps I ought to say word On Italy, The Italian victory is one of the most portentous events of the year. and it may have infinitely ereatt~ results than other victories which look bigger. It is defeat inflicted on a power not in the best condition to sus- tain it.
 Here is great encounter in which the Austrian empire is being held All the strength she has been able la gather is being held, because for this attack she brought up every available man. Considerably more than 50 per cent of the Austrian effectives were engaged in this attack. Had they cap tured the Monticello position they might have got behind the whole allied posi- tion. and 1t might have been disastrous
 But they were held by the Italian army. The pressure against them in- creased daily. and now the Austrians are in full retreat. and the only uues- tion is whether they will be able t1 effect their retreat
 The Italians have recaptured Mon- tello and are now for the first time in months on the left side of the Piave They have captured number of guns and recaptured half the guns lost in the first offensive
 The Austrian army committed it's whole strength to this great offensive, and had inflicted upon it one of the greatest disasters in the war. This, at a time of serious discontent in Austria when three-fifths of the population are completely out of sympathy with the ob- jects of the war--as matter of fact they are more in sympathy with the aims of the allies-and when three-ffths of the population are we'll aware that their only chance of achieving anything in the nature of freedom for themselves was to secure great allied victory, and at v-~y-