THE BRITISH CABINET UNREST

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2598, 21 October 1915, Page 5

THE BRITISH CABINET UNREST

4 MR. ASQUITH ILL SIR lAN HAMILTON'S RECALL ■ VARIOUS OPINIONS , TIDE OF WAR IN ' SERBIA , HEAVY FIGHTING BRILLIANT RUSSIAN ' SUCCESSES Public curiosity regarding the British Cabinet unrest has not been allayed. The Prime Minister (Mr. Asquith) is ill, and at present is recuperating his health. At the sitting of the House of Commons, Mr. Lloyd George was in the Prime Minister's place, and answered questions, but the public is no wiser as to the deeper meaning of Sir Edward Carson's resignation and Sir lan Hamilton's recall. Press opinion on tho situation on Gallipoli refers generally to tho fact that tho recall of the British commander wag more or less to bo oxpeoted. There has been heavy fighting in tho Serbian theatre, and destruction wrought on certain of the Bulgarian fronts. In tho Eastern : theatre the Russians have scored two brilliant successes— not on a grand scale, of course, hut effective in results and in loss to ' the' enemy. ' . THE BRITISH CABINET CRISIS

IK. JSQOITH ILL ' QUESTIONS IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS By Telegraph-Press AEScciatiou-Oopyriglii Theßritish. Prime Minister (Mr. Asquith) is suffering from catarih, and has been ordered a-few davs rest. _ The report,of Mr. Asquith's.illuess, following upon Sir Edward Carson's resignation, .is tho subject of comment. Some papers consider that it may bo the prelude to further Cabinet-changes. The points on which the Cabinet lacks unanimity «io said to be the Gallipoli and Balkans campaigns and conscrip- . An important meeting of Cabinet, arranged for Tuesday niornins;—the third in twenty : iour hours-had to bo postponed till the afternoon on account of Mr. Asquith s illness. It met 111 tho afternoon, when Lord' Kitchener and Mr Asquith attended. Iln proceedings were curtailed. Mr. Asquith was absent from the war Committeo ancl the House of Commons • The Premier went to Berkshire on Saturday for "the week-end. He re- ■ turned unwell, and his illness developed on Tuesday. He will probably be unable to tako up his Parliamentary duties for a week. Tile doctor recommends a rest in the country. ( Sir Edward Carson's Resignation. There is intense interest throughout Britain in the Cabinet situation. For days there has been an uneasy feeling that the members of tho Cabinet were 111 serious disagreement, but the tension was somewhat relieved last week when Sir Edward Carson flatly denied a report that ho had resigned. After that his movements were closely watched by the newspapers. His absence from four consecutive Cabinet meetings again aroused susncions, which culminated in the announce ment of his resignation. DISAPPROVES. OF BIG ADVANCE IN THE BALKANS. (Rec. October 20, 8.10 p.m.) o- wi jr. , . , , , London, October 19. fell- Jidward Carson resigned mainly because he disapproves of a bia new advance m the Balkans. fa The "Irish Times" infers from Sir Edward's resignation and General Monroe s appointment that the Dardanelles campaign has not been abandoned. SPECULATIONS ON THE NEW MINISTERS. (Rec. October 21, 1.20 a.m.) n. • i j 4.1 * c w n n 'x, ■„ London, October 20. It is expected that Sir F. E. Smith will be appointed Attorney-General, and Mr. Or. Cave, K.C., Solicitor-General. •

THE RECALL OF SIR lAN HAMILTON SOME PRESS OPINIONS A WORD ABOUT THE NEW COMMANDER y By,Telegraph—Presn 4«ooclation-Copyriek (Rec. October 20, 9.20 p.m.) . . i. a- T tt -I. London, October 19. Tho newspapers interpret Sir lan Hamilton's recall as a determination on tho part of the authorities to instal vigour and purpose into tho campaign The "Evening News says: There s some news oven tho Censor "cannot suppress, and Sir Charles Monro s appointment is in this cate»orv It means that the General upon whom the wholo responsibility for the Gailip'oli campaign rested has been superseded, despito the tact that we are still, officiallv onlv a few miles from an epoch-making victory. Lord Milner's doubts are' still fresh in the memory. One or General Monro's first duties will be to determine tho grave problem as to whether it is expedient to persist in tho present plan of campaign.' The "Evening Standard says: J.ho recall is not altogether unexpected. Sir lan Hamilton s six months command has resulted in many brilliant actions, but has not achieved its purpose. The public would have l een better prepared for the present changes it tlicy ] Ja( i not [jggn ( ] ece ; vec | ]j t ] le cians, and had been told in clearer language what was happening in the Dardanelles. It may safely bo presumed th n t g; r j an Hamilton's report won't be published for many years, if ever, it was au cxtromely difficult task after the Turks had been given two.months in w hieh to prepare their fortifications." Tho "Pall Mall Gazette snjs. 110 change in the command does not surprise us, but there is danger in overstating its significance. Sir lan Hamilton was confronted .with stupendous difficulties, and neither he nor his heroic troops haV0 i depreciated m the public estimation in their failure yet to obtain a. decisive victory." THE NEW COMMANDER ON THE PENINSULA GENERAL WHO HAS RAPIDLY COME TO THE FRONT. ' (Rcc. October 20, 9.40 p.m.) . .«■ r» > London, October 19. Tho "Daily Chronicle" says: 'air Oharies Monro is a striking instance of tho emergence of Scottish leadership since the war. Ho has all the characteristics of first-rate generalship—instant judgment, unlimited receptiveness of ideas, imperturbability, unflinching cotirago, and a capacity fur winning popularity and inspiring confidence. Ho went to Franco in command of tho Sccond Division of the London Territorials, and was given command of the Second Regular Division before Mons. Ho so distinguished himself in the retreat,' the Battle of tho Maruo, and in tho fighting on the Aisnc that he W'a« given Its ariny COI'DS."-

PARLIAMENT IN SESSION

PACKED GALLERIES AND INTENSE INTEREST. London, October 19. "When the House of Commons met, the galleries were packed, and there was a largo attendance of members. Although it was generally known that Air. Asquith would not bo present, there was some expectation of a possible statement of the situation, but this was not forthcoming. Mr. Asquith's place was taken by Mr. Lloyd George, whose appearance betrayed the anxiety and stress through, which ho has lately been passing. During the last year his whitening hair has shown the strain in office. Cheers sounded, in all parts of tho Houso when tho Speaker said that he hoped that Mr. Asquith would only be absent for a brief time. Replies to Questions. Mr. Lloyd George stated that LordHaldanc has visited France as Sir John French's guest. It was impossible to name a day, he said, for the .Premier'*; statement oil the Dardanelles. Replying to a question, Mr. Lloyd George said that the method which Italy would adopt to effectually co-operate in helping Servia or the common causo was under discussion. The Under-Secretary for Home Affairs (Mr. W. Brace) said that it was not proposed to intern or repatriate Bulgarians, except in individual cases. The Dardanelles. Lord Robert Cecil, Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs, in reply to Mr. Outliwaite, said that the statement of Sir George Buchanan (British Ambassador at Petrograd), that tho attack on tho Dardanelles was partly due to a Russian request, so as to divert the Turks from tho Caucasus, must not be regarded as covering all the considerations involved. He added that it would be improper for him to make a statement with regard to the importance attached to the Dardanelles or any other thoatro of the war by any of tho Allies. Questions put on the Notice Paper by Mr. Joynson Hicks include whether supplies of timber and iron had been disembarked at the Dardanelles to enablo shelters to be erected for tho troops; if notj what steps had beer, taken to ensure tho health of the troops in the winter; what was the number of cases of sickness removed from the Dardanelles, and is the proportion of sick and wounded reasonable ?