The Dominion. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1915. MR. ASQUITH'S WAR STATEMENT

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2610, 4 November 1915, Page 6

The Dominion. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1915. MR. ASQUITH'S WAR STATEMENT

The promised war statement by the British Prime Minister, which has been awaited with muoh eagerness, has now been made. The Empire bad been led to expect important, announcements regarding the reconstruction of tho Cabinet, the reorganisation of the General Staff, and some real enlightenment_ concerning recent developments in the Near East. The spccch throws a good deal of light upon the course of events in the Balkans and the campaign in the Dardanelles, but it contains no sensational disclosures as to Cabinet changes or any startling revelations regarding tho relations between tho Government and tho General Staff. ' Mr. Asqtjith's review of the progress of the war is decidedly impressive. It is also useful and timely. It helps tho public to acquire that "proper- sense of perspective" which lie rightly regards as one of the chief needs of tho present moment. People are natur-' ally inclined to fix their attention too exclusively on those phases of tho conflict which are for the timo being causing the greatest amount of anx'iety, and they are apt to forget that tho picture has another and brighter side. It is, of course, foolish to shut our eyes to our failures, but it is just as foolish to underestimate the extent and value of our successes. Mr. Asquith is perfectly entitled to balance tho successes against the failures, and to claim that the result provides no reasonable ground for pessimism. His sketch of the magnificent achievements of tho Navy should inspire every Britisher with pride and confidence. It is quite impossible to overestimate the sorviccs which the Fleet has rendered to the Empire, or the advantage which Britain's sea power has given to her Allies, But even the British 'N r «\\v cannot JAa imjuatiibki. Dm &t«

tempt to forcc the Dardanelles reminrk uh of this fact. M.tt. AsQUira's confession of disappointment concerning this phase of the war is much more rational and reassuring than that senseless optimism which is blind to obvious facts aiid persists that all is well when all ife not well. The average Britisher is not- unreasonable. He does not imagine for a_ moment that we can win this terrible war without, receiving hard blows as well as giving them. The Imperial Government might with advantage trust- the people a littlo more, and show a Tittle more confidence in their powers of endurance and capacity for sacrifice. A moment's consideration of the alternative to victory should be enough to convince everv man and woman in the Empire that however great tho price of victory may be it must bo paid.

Though Mr. Asquith is able to sTiow that, taken as a whole, the British Empire has played a great and increasingly important part in the war,_ yet the fact remains that the end is not "in sight, and that we are a.t the present moment faced with a situation of extreme gravitv. Howcver'satisfactory the Prime Minister's speech may be as a review of the past, it is undoubtedly disappointing as regards its references to the present and the future. "It does not allay the widespread feeling that the Government's grip on the position as it actually exists to-day is not as firm and resolute as the public has a right to expect. Mr. Asquith assures us in the most emphatic manner that the Government will "stick at nothing sooner than not win,'' but the speech docs not leave the impression that the Cabinet has decisively made up its mind to the measures necessary to make victory a certainty. Experience has shown that_ the present unwieldy Cabinet is incapable of coming to a decision on some absolutely vital points, yet Mr. Asquith does not say that he intends to rcducc its size. He'imerely expresses the opinion _ that the- Committee of the Cabinet concerned with strategy should not be less than three nor more than five, and ho adds that Cabinet responsibility for large changes in policy should be preserved. It is to bo hoped that Government will at least promptly give effect to the view that the Committee of Cabinet concerned with strategy should be reduced in size. The present is no time for hesitation and half measures, but for quick and purposeful action. There can bo no doubt that it would be a great improvement on the present cumbersome and ineffective arrangement if the conduct of the war were handed _ over to a committee consisting of, say, Me. Asquith, Mr. Balfour, Mr. Lloyd George, Lord Kitchener, and Sir Edward Grey. Mr. Asquith admits that the Cabinet is divided upon the question of conscription. His own opinion seems to be that compulsory service should not be adopted save in the last extreme. He says the present method is haphazard, capricious, and to some extent unjust, but he fears that the change to compulsion would endanger the unity of the nation. It is impossible to believe that if the Government informed the nation that some form of conscription wei"> absolutely needed in order to_ bring the war to a victorious end within a reasonable period any serious opposition would be offered.; Of course., if the Government really believes that all the men thev require can be secured under the voluntary system it would 110b he wise in' the cireumstanccs to resort to compulsion. But Mr. Asquith's ominous hints strengthen the view that the existing method of rccruiting is having its last chance.