The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-03-01

POA oOAAo1A0y III C11C PAAA oSO 0AA"o summed up the feeling there tC rescue the Allied cause from the delay and incompetence had lee
 The Prime Minister of Europe, said this man.
 It was an imaginative and expres- sive phrase, even then, when we had still combatant Russia and still victorious Italy to depend upon. It is doubly true and doubly expressive now that Italy is threatened and Russia in confusion. For we British have now the main burden of the war upon us. Think of it. Russia, silent and suffer ing. Immortal France undefeated, but sorely tried. Italy under eclipse. The United States preparing. Japan far off. What remains?
 Great Britain, the predominant partner. Great Britain against Prussia And, guiding the war, on our side, chief of the partnership, and so Prime Minister of Europe George. His task is a colossal one, his re- sponsibility terrible, but he shows no ksigns of fearing it. Indeed to be afraid, to hesitate, not to govern, but to let others govern, would be absolutely fa- tai for the Prime Minister at this stage in the conflict. It would be fatal, \ repeat, for the one man to give over the reins to many men-to many fin gers, ready to twist and turn this way and that. If the one man is to be worthy of his task, he must hold the reins firmly himself.
 For this work he needs three main qualities foresight, energy, courage. Has MT. Lloyd George got these qual- ities? Let us see.
 Foresight and energy first. MT. Lloyd George began the war as Finance Minister, then went on to 8 Munitions, then became War Secre- tary, then Prime Minister. In finance and in munitions and at the War Off, flee MT. Lloyd George planned for a long war in the first place; then, in the second place, for unified war. Planning for Long War
 "The war may be very long one," x was his text in 1915, for the May Bud- ' get of that year. This was foresight. Boldly he spoke out. Boldly he warn s ed our workers. Drink and extrava- ! gance could make us lose. For a six A months war, drink must be curtailed. \ For a long war also, finances must be A pooled. Foresight and unity! MT. 4 Lloyd George left the ExcheQuer. His immense driving power and 9 force of imagination were needed at S the Ministry of Munitions. The shell I scandal had mortified the country. A man was wanted completely to reor- H ganize the production of war mater 3 ia1 with all that depends upon it. S In this colossal task the new Minis # ter of Munitions showed the two most N necessary of the qualities have men, # toned above-energy, foresight. RI He planned for a long war. The \ Ministry of Munitions now reaps what sA he sowed. In face of considerable ci- aS vilian and military opposition, he bold N ly doubled contracts undertaken ir z 1915. Nothing was enough for him # nothing too much. He solved the mu- M hilton problem once for all. How? By @ energy and foresight.
 % In combating the craze for holi % days, in setting the example of cease # less labor, in speaking out to employe! 'S and employers, in consolidating indus sb trial leaders and reconciling labor or
 
 - the drink evil MT. Lloyd George per l. formed at the Ministry of Munitions le a task for which the country can neve
 thank him enough.
 The country showed it's gratitude. ,n When Lord Kitchener was drowned ,s (June 1916), MT. Lloyd George be
 came Secretary of State for War.
 Here he went far ahead of the de
 
 for the war, as he had done at tn
 Ministry of Munitions. He called fo 1 Sir Eric Geddes. He dealt with tn :. railways at the front. For this las work and this alone, his name woul
 be memorable in war history. Flo
 this, the army knows how to value hi
 effort on their behalf.
 The country also showed it's grati ] tude by pointing to him as to the on L possible Premier when, at the end c O 1916, the old Coalition governmer
 fell
 All parties and men then gathere
 about him-perhaps too many me hS from too many parties; too many me
 viewing themselves as indispensable lY, representing too many parties long de CT funct.
 The danger lurking ahead of tn
 new government began to reveal itse rSt departments, parties, personalitie n,, great persons with great names, lon titles and vast self-esteem. To uni1 F. them all was another huge task-t 2E assuage egregious vanities a perhaI impossible one.
 cIl MT. Lloyd George tried. n- He has been extraordinarily loya
 He has praised and paid tribute to me IO- so diversed by tradition and tempere of ment from himself as Sir Edward Cal md son and Lord Milner. He has told th
 public of the achievements of his co ce leagues. He has claimed no credit nc 'or due to himself.
 Has he gone too far in this? VII Premier and His Colleagues up The answer to that gives me m aI- point for the third quality needed i
 a premier r-courage.
 Now, none denies MT. Lloy llV Georges personal courage. None de
 nies his pluck, his constant giving
 hmiself to the cause. It may only |
 kasked whether he has enough -courag