In the House of Lords Lord Midleton's speeoh was in
the main a series of questions, and Lord Crewe in replying promised a day for discussing the blockade. A discussion on Salonika would be unprofitable and dangerous. The number of Govern- ment and controlled factories making munitions was now over two thousand seven hundred. Lord Kitchener, in a. brief review of the military situation, said that the fighting qualities of the French were never higher. During the winter we had given- no rest or respite to the enemy. The Italians were at present cheoked by the extraordinary strength of the Austrian positione on the Isonzo, but their splendid courage would eventually triumph. The Russian Army had been thoroughly reorganized and re-equipped. Adequate preparations _were _being made Egypt to defend the Canal. The tribes stirred up by the Senussi still caused a certain feeling of unrest, but the admirable loyalty of the people of Egypt formed an effective barrier. Fixtelly, Lord Kitchener said that he recognized how .seriously the numbers of new recruits obtainable were reduced by exemptions. Older men and women must be more.freely employed for work at home.
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