ails
of the increase in the separation allowances made to wives of soldiers,
both regular and territorial, which Mr. Asquith had announced in the
House of Commons.

Tribute of the Opposition.

_The Marquess of Lansdowne_--I feel that it would be almost impertinent
on my part to say a word after the extraordinarily interesting statement
to which we have just listened. But I should be sorry if complete
silence on our part lent itself to the interpretation that we are
indifferent to the great topics which the Secretary of State for War has
dealt with in his speech. May we be permitted to say that we regard with
the profoundest admiration and gratitude what the noble Field Marshal
described as the great feat of arms which has been accomplished by the
British force since its arrival at the seat of war, and to add also that
we share the feelings which the noble and gallant lord has expressed
with regard to the immense services rendered by Sir John French to this
country, services which he, of course, could not bear witness to in the
dispatch he sent home? [Cheers.] There are only two other remarks which,
with great deference, I would venture to make. One has reference to the
noble and gallant lord's statement in regard to the response made to his
appeal to the country for recruits. That response has been memorable and
admirable and, considering the immense influx of recruits which have
come in, we can scarcely be surprised that in the early days the strain
should have been rather greater than either the War Office or the local
authorities were able to cope with. But we have every reason to believe
that that has been corrected, and I have no doubt that all will now go
smoothly and well. We have all heard with the greatest satisfaction the
announcement that the separation allowances to the wives of regulars and
territorials are to be considerably increased. ["Hear, hear!"]
Considering what our soldiers are doing for us at the seat of war, the
least we can do is to provide liberally for the relatives whom they have
left behind in this country. [Cheers.]

* * * * *

PARLIAMENT PROROGUED.

Speech by King George V. Read Before Both Houses, Sept. 18.

The Lord Chancellor read the King's speech, which was in the following
terms:

My Lords and Gentlemen: I address you in circumstances that call
for action rather than for speech.

After every endeavor had been made by