The speech of Sir Guy Calthrop, the Coal Controller, to
the British Miners' Federation Conference at Southport on Tuesday is clear evidence that the Government during recent months have underestimated naval, military, industrial, domestic, and foreign needs, in releasing so many miners for Army service. Sir Guy is faced by a deficiency of twenty-seven million tons, even if household rationing yields its estimated saving of nine million tons as com- pared with last year. So important industries must be rationed. We are behind with our agreed shipments to neutral countries ; France and Italy are pitiably short of fuel ; the needs of the American Army in France are rapidly increasing; and the situation is at Dresent " precarious," partly as a result of influenza in coal mines
during June and July. Sir Guy announced that no more miners would be recruited beyond the quota of seventy-five thousand ; but it seems to us that miners will have to be returned by the Army, to secure the prime necessary of successful war. Sir Guy's appeal to his audience to increase their output was supported by a message from Marshal Foch " Coal is the key of victory. Miners of Britain, help me ! On, then, miners of Great Britain, and let not a moment be lost to hasten the hour of peace ! " We must add, as an unhappy anticlimax, that the Yorkshire miners are now striking as the result of a petty dispute with the eoalowners. Is that to be Yorkshire's reply to Marshal Foch ?
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