* *

KING TO BRITAIN'S FLEET.

Message from George V. to Admiral Sir John Jellicoe, Aug. 5.

At this grave moment in our national history I send to you, and through
you to the officers and men of the fleets of which you have assumed
command, the assurance of my confidence that under your direction they
will revive and renew the old glories of the royal navy, and prove once
again the sure shield of Britain and of her empire in the hour of trial.

GEORGE R. I.

* * * * *

NAPOLEONISM ONCE AGAIN.

Speech by Bonar Law, Opposition Leader, in House of Commons, Aug. 6.

No Minister has ever fulfilled a duty more responsible or in regard to
which the responsibility was more acutely felt than that which has just
been fulfilled by the right honorable gentleman. This is not a time for
speech-making, and I should have been quite ready to leave the statement
which he has given to the committee as the expression of the view, not
of a party, but of a nation. [Cheers.] But as this, I think, will be the
only opportunity which will be given for expressing the views of a large
section of this House, I feel that I am bound to make it clear to the
committee and to the country what is the attitude of his Majesty's
Opposition on this question. There are two things which I desire to
impress upon the committee. The first is that we have dreaded war and
have longed for peace as strongly as any section of this committee; and
the second is that in our belief we are in a state of war against our
will, and that we, as a nation, have done everything in our power to
prevent such a condition of things arising. [Cheers.] When this crisis
first arose I confess that I was one of those who had the impulse to
hope that even though a European conflagration took place we might be
able to stay out. I had that hope strongly. But in a short time I became
convinced that into this war we should inevitably be drawn and that it
really was a question only whether we should enter it honorably or be
dragged into it with dishonor. [Cheers.]

Folly and Wickedness.

I remember that on the first occasion after the retirement of my right
honorable friend (Mr. Balfour) when I had to speak on foreign affairs I
made this statement. It perhaps is wrong, though I do not think so even
yet. I said that if ever war arose between Great Britain and Germany it
would not be due to inevitable causes, for I did not believe