THE CALL FOR MEN

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2571, 20 September 1915, Page 5

THE CALL FOR MEN

VOLUNTEERS OR CONSCRIPTS ? TALK OF FORCING'AN ISSUE WITH AN APPEAL TO THE ELECTORS By Telegraph—Press Association—Oopyri'ht _' London, September 17. The "Daily News" states that a minority in the Cabinet, representing tho conscriptionists, intends to resign with a view to forcing a general election on the issue of compulsory service.

An Insane Appeal, The "Westminster Gazette" says tho insanity of an appeal to tlie country respecting conscription is the laughingstock of our enemies and allies. The test of democracy is to distinguish between war and politics.: Forcefulness is Mr. Lloyd George's temperament, but it is impossible that he will dynamite the Cabinet to rush into a conflict with the working-classes. T'no idea of using compulsion for labonr should have been avoided. The men's distrust of conscription should be converted by Mr. Asquith, backed by Lord Kitchener and the United Cabinet leaders. Those who object to military and industrial compulsion should help to increase the output of the workshops of the country. "We slio.uld have a more careful method of recruiting so as to avoid indiscriminate voluntarism." A' Traitor Dictatorship. The "Pall Mall Gazette," commenting on tlie speech delivered in the House by Mr ._ Thomas, protests that'the State is paying blackmail, and urges the adoption of force, if necessary, to avoid a traitor dictatorship. Tlie Workers' National Committee has passed a resolution opposing compulsory military—and still more industrial—service, especially in establishments run for private profit, where trades unions were powerless to regulate the conditions and wages. LEADERS' ATTITUDES ANALYSED THE CABINET INTRIGUE DISSECTED ' COMPULSION OR COMPROMISE? 1 (Rec. September 10, 2.30 p.m.) London, September 18. Though tho evening newspapers repudiate the "Daily NewsV more startling assertions, national service and Sir. Thomas's threats continue to be the topics of prime importance. 'The newspapers plead for'the promptest settlement, and demand that Lord Kitchener sliould give a decision as to the necessity for compulsory service, and discuss the Cabinet intrigue in ' all its bearings. . .. It-is generally agreed that Mr. Lloyd George, Lord Curzon, and Lord Selborne are' at the head of the out-and-out compulsionists, in favour of compulsory labour ?n tlite factories and workshops, in addition to military service ; Mr. Churchill and Sir F. E. Smith hold similar views, and so, though less emphatic, did Lord Lansdowne, Mr. Bonar Law, and Mr. Austen Chamberlain at the recent conference.

The compulsory problem first' came to a head at tfhe July crisis, and was postponed by means of the compromise over the national register, which lias still not been fully tested. The compulsionists' are now anxious to force the pace, largely owing .to.,tho strong line which the voluntarists, headed by Mr. M'Kenna, Sir John Simon, and Mr. I.cwis Harcourt, have-recently taken.' Mr. Lloyd George's preface, and Mr. Havcourt's optimistic speech, leavo accontuated the breach. A section of the Cabinet is now in favour of a reduction of the Cabinet, believing it to be unwieldy for the conduct of the war, and desire that reduction should take the form of the elimination of the voluntarists, placing Mr., Lloyd George in supreme command. The weightier members, headed by Mr. Asqurtli and Mr. Balfour, only favour compulsion if that ,be essential to victory, striving at compromise to preserve the unity of tho Government.

Tho majority of the newspapers ridicule tho idea of an election. It is understood that Mr. Churchill favours a referendum to avoid tiiG turmoil of election. The matter will bo fully discussed in Parliament shortly, as it will be necessary to amend lUio Parliament Bill to avoid an election in January. Tho' "Star" protests against foroing Mr. Asquitli, Sir Edward Groy, and Lord Kitchener to walk the plank in order to hoist tho conscription flag. The "Evening News" says that the opinions of Mr. Thomas, given in all honesty, wont over far in threatening a stoppage. The trado unions will 1 not fail the Government if it is decided that, compulsion is essential to victory. It has been suggested that railwaymen and miners should be exempted from conscription, but Mr. Thomas, on behalf of the railway mon, _ and Mr, Smillio, on behalf of the minors, have already repudiated this as a bribe. The Unionist newspapers generally ridiculo the story of a Cabinet plot. The "Daily Mail" sa.ys tliat ifn cmiuont mombcr of tho Cabinet has described it as "pestilential nonsense.-' The "Daily' News" says that about one-half of the Liberal members of the House of Pomraons. oppose .• conscription, and one-sixth favour itj thei rest jVirfelt %.erMaens'a )qa&

AOORREOTION. By the misplacing of a paragraph Jit Saturday s report or the national service debate in the House of Commons, Colonel Arthur Lee (Unionist), was represented _as expressing _ the sentiments which, in faot, "wero given utterance to by Mr. Thomas (the Labour member), an obwus inconsistency, having regard to the Colonel's opening sentence. The apaeolies should have read: In the House of Commons, on the report stage of the credit vote, Colonel Arthur Lee (Unionist) advocated compulsory reonuting, and said that the Allies could not achieve victory without mtch greater forces. . Wo were the only nation able to supply the extra men. Mr. J. H. Thomas (Labour) said that the last soldier had already been taken from tho minerß and railway workers. There was a shortage of agricutural and munition workers. Ho urged the supporters of national _servioe to consider what would happen if every lodge of tho Railway Union-informed the Executive that upon tho introduction of the measure tliay would stop. The present Munitions Act showed that it was impossible to coerce 200,000 men. What was going to happen to three million? If they wanted an industrial revolution let them proceed with the conscription agitation. He denied that the voluntary system was a failure. The workers wero spending their life-blood to crush Prussian militarism. Lot it be accomplished by the freedom of the British people, and not by methods odious and unjust.

A THE LAST FIVE MONTHS "THINGS HAVE NOT GONE AS WELL AS THEY MIGHT " MR. CHURCHILL ON THE OUTLOOK : By Telegraph-Press Association-Copyright (Rec. September 19, 2.30 p.m.)' ■ it. tie munition workers at Enfield, said tow,)™ 8 dlffic,jlt - or a P ub 'io man to speak on any topic at the present m?l-' a r n ™ a ,l? pe °P le wer6 trj'ing to make difliculties and create artificial diusions on matters which should bo approached 111 the spirit of impartiality and goodwill. During the last five months tho. affairs of tho Allies had not gone as well as they might, or as they had hoped. Three outstanding events had been, not disasters, but di£ appomtnients; A series; of resolute'.and costly attacks had been mado -on the 0™ h11 , e3 lu franco and Flanders, and although ground had been gained these lines had not been pierced; second^',, we had gained invaluable ground m the Dardanelles, which led us towards « decisive conclusion, but we i,-„, gained the vantage points at which we had aimed; thirdly, there waa tho invasion of Russia. While Russia was re-arming, and recovering her lost strength, a new and grand, but unmistakeable, additional burden fell upon nu ? : n "tnation," ' added' Mr; onurcliUl, was a very serious one. The war could only be carried to a successful conclusion if Britain utilisod the whole strength of her human and national capacity. If the great crimes that had beon committed among the weak and helpless, upon the lawa of peace, the customs of civilisation, : and the dictates of humanity were allowed to co unpunished the evil-doer would emerge chastened perhaps, but with the faoulty for harm intact. Then a period of unrest. • "A brief and troubled peace can be only an interlude botween fihis great war and another." Mr: Churchill dwelt 011 the immense importance of every yard of ground in the Dardanelles whicli bad been gained by the heroic courago of our soldiers and- our isuperb Australian and _New Zealand fellow-citizens. 'Success will repay the 'heavy cost and logs we have endured."- •

WAR MUNITIONS v ' MR. LLOYD GEORCE AND THE WORKERS. CONFERENCE FRUITS. By TeleKraph—Press AssoolaUon-OopyrlsM (Rec. September 19, 10 a.m.) ' London, September 17. The Munition Conference has agree# that Mr. Lloyd George shall appoint a committee of employers ana trade unionists to secure a maximum supply of skilled munition workers; sfecure the suspension of all restrictive trade union, rules; assist in the investigation, and determine the J) est amount of " stilled labour necessary to enable the machinery to_ run twenty-four hours a day: and assist in v the reorganisation of skilled labour in order that semi-skilled and unskilled males and females may, be employed on a more extensive scale.' CLASSIFYING fJOR SERVICE AVAILABLE RECRUITING'ARE^'

. DIMINISHING. (Rcc. September 20, 0.10 a.m.) London, September 18; The "Daily Chronicle" states that Lord Lansdowne's Committee is malting a schedulo of the'trades and industries from which recruiting will be prohibited.It is attaining formidable proportions. After all _ the deductions, the number of men available for military service' will bo less than is commonly supposed. RECRUITING IN AUSTRALIA. WORST DAY'S ENLISTMENTS ON . " RECORD. Sydney, September; 18. _ 'A! further recruiting campaign will ' open on October '9. Yesterday's was the worst day's record -since the war began, only thirty-one men enlisting. ,

News Tins been received from : the ' front of tho deatli from cnterio fever of Mr. Gerard Temple Williams. Tho lata Mr. Williams, who was a son of Mr. Jolm Williams, of tho ' Bay. of Islands, and later of Hawke's Bay,: and a brother of Mr. E. Heathcote Williams, solicitor, Hastings; went away with'tho Wellington. Mounted Rifles. Before ; going to the' front. ho "was engaged in farming oil tho East Coast. • A Press Association message from Sydnoy (received last night) states that Major "Jim" M'Manamey, a prominent Rugby Union player, has been killed in the Dardanelles. Mr. John Fuller, junr., a member of the City Council, left for Auckland on Saturday. Mr. and Mrs. W. Lewis, of Patanga Crescent, Wellington, whoso son Tom died of. wounds at the Dardanelles on August 10 last, have been, advised that their eldest son, . Sergeant Watkin Lewis; of tho sth Reinforcements, was wounded in action oil August 8. Mrs. T. R. Allen, wifo of the district; manager, Public" Trust ; Offico, Masterton, has received a cablegram from her father, Warden Clifton, of Ravensthorpe, West Australia, stating that her brother Private R. IC. Clifton, who sailed from Australia last June with tho 6tli Australian Reinforcements, has been killed in action at tho Dardanelles. Decaesed was 19 years of age. Lieut.-Colopol Boadam, of the 5tK Gurkhas, and a brother of Ghief-Dotoo-tivo Boddam, of Wellington, was seriously wounded by shrapnel at the Dardanelles on Ju?e 4. ' • Lieut. Cyril Hayter, 6f tho Main Body of the New Zealand Forces, whosa death at the front was reported ro cemtly, was a single man, and brother of Lieut." Chilton Hayter; who is 6err--thft,-sth,.Keinf!)ieementai ••••;