EXTRA MILLION MEN

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2652, 24 December 1915, Page 5

EXTRA MILLION MEN

VOTED BY PARLIAMENT , ALL NIGHT SITTING. By. Telcgrapli—Press Association— Copyright London, December 22. Tlio House of Commons, after an allnight sitting, passed .tlio vota for all extra million men. EARNEST AND SILENT. . ATTITUDE OF HOUSE OF COMMONS. London, December 22. During Mr. Asquith's speech, the attitudc of the House of Commons was earnest and silent. Lord. Fisher and Lord Derby were prominent in tho Peers' Gallery. Mr. Asquith dealt with most of the questions in terse, sharp sentences, but the speech was interspersed by passages of deep feeling. when he referred to thb gallantry of the Australians and New 'oalandcrs and tho necessity, for vigorius prosecution of the .war. SCENES IN THE BOUSE HOT COMMENT BY MALCONTENTS London, December 22. ' Tlie' vote for the million men was larried amidst most remarkable scenes. A. body \of Liberals at midnight deBanded the adjournment of the Houses, alleging that it was a scandal tliat. a iecision of such importance should bo. left to a starved Jury.. Mr. A. Lynch (Clare) alleged that the impotence of the leaders tad nullified tho valour /of the troops , again and again. . Mr. R. L. Outhwaito (Hanley) denounced the unnecessary operations on Gallipoli and elsewhere when it was obvious that the war would be decided on the Western front. Mr. Joseph King (Somerset) deolared that the next great attack in the West was more likely to succecd since Sir John French had resigned. A single member of the Cabinet and three under-secretaries were now nodding on the Treisury Bench. . Other members of tho House were snoring on the benches. Some were fetched- out of their beds at the National Liberal Club to make up a quorum. Tho malcontents' repeatedly moved the adjournment of tho House, but the Government wais adamant. ' Mr. Dalziel said that hundreds of thousands ,of lives had- been wasted by the stupidity of the War _ Office. The generals who were responsible for men dying of tliirst-'at Suvla were istill commanding. Mr. M'Konna (Chancellor of the Exchequer) displayed wonderful endurance and was full of ficht to- the last. He socured the vote after a fourteen hours struggle. . LORD;DERBY'S RETURNS. TO BE CONSIDERED BY CABINET. Condon, December 22. Mr. Asquith has announced that Lord Derby's report on tho recruiting returns will be considered by Cabinet on Wednesday. He could not hold out any hope of making a statement, before the adjournment of Parliament. PLEDCE TO MARRIED MEN. FURTHER POWERS NECESSARY. London, December 22. In order to fulfil tho Prime Minister's pledge to tlib married men, the Government may have to take further powers, but it is believed that in so doing it will have tho Bupport of .the majority of tho members of the House and the people. BURKED THE REAL ISSUE. PURELY RHETORICAL SUCCESS. (Rcc. December 23, 9.15 p.m.) London, December- 23. The "Manchester Guardian" says: "Mr. Asquith's speecli burked the real issues, and its success was purely riietorical." The "Evening News" says: "The Government has thrice postponed the announcement for which the Empire has been waiting with the greatest anxiety." THE MEN IN REBERVE. MINIMUM REQUIRED. v (Rec. December 23, 11.35 p.m.) . London, December 23. In the House of Commons, Mr. H. J. Tonnant (Under-Secretary for War) stated that for every man at tho frou.t we ought to have in reserve 1.8 men. The wastage was fifteen per cent, monthly.