17 FEBRUARY 1917, Page 3

An important debate on the submarine campaign was opened in

the House of Lords on Tuesday by Lord Beresford, who, though critical, expressed his full confidence in the capacity of the present Board of Admiralty to overcome the barbarous methods of the Germans, and paid a glowing tribute to the courage and devotion of British seamen. Lord Lytton, replying for the Government, said that the Navy was prepared to guarantee a sufficiency of sea com- merce to feed the home population, supply the needs of our armies in the field, fulfil our obligations to our Allies, and keep open certain sea routes for neutral commerce. But our success in the last phase depended on how far we could secure the eo-operation of the civil population of the entire country, and it was an indispensable condition that the whole available cargo space in our merchant . vessels should be given tip to absolute necessaries only.