CONSCRIPTION BILL INTRODUCED

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2663, 7 January 1916, Page 5

CONSCRIPTION BILL INTRODUCED

MR. ASQUITH'S SPEECH BRITONS-HAYE THEIR HEARTS IN THE WAR . . By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright • Th( K e j s n ° ne< 4 to doubt tliat' the country is on tho°evoof ag?eat occasion, : and the House on the ove of a momentous decision. London is simmcrmg with excitement and is gradually forking up to a climax. Everyone is asking himself what will be the fate of voluntaryism? Will the House docilely accept the Cabmets decisions? Will the Labour Conference be convinced, after the speeches of Mr. Asquith and others? Even the Cabinet decisions remainl in doubt It is believed that the final steps of the Cabinet will not be settled until th.© eleventh liour. The excitement is infectious There is the most animated spectacle at Westminster, where the public is watchin- tho arrival of prominent politicians. The lobbies are • ' T L?! Derby and Lord Islington are among tho numerous Peers in the eallery of the House of Commons . Sir John Simon occupied a seat in the second vow above the gangway from whiclr Mr Churchill bade farewell to the House Jl i Tennant (Under-Secretary for War) caused a painful sensation in the crowded Rouse by announcing the casualties at Loos as being 2378 officers and 0/ men. No Case Made Out for Compulsion. Asciuith was cheered when he rose and introduced the Military Ser- • Asquith that tlie Derby results had convinced our Allies and enemies that the people of the United Kingdom had their heart in the war and were prepared to meet any call Speaking for himself, he was of opinion that no case had been made out for general cqmpulsion. The present Bill could be sincerely supported by those who, either from principle or as in liis own case, on the ground of expediency, were opposed to conscription. . The pledge had been given to. married men because there was overwhelming evidence that the unmarried were holding back in large numbers If that assurance had not been given, the whole campaign would have broken down When the pledge was given there were no signs of protest or remonstrance and the effects were very considerable. > auu The figures showed that nearly 3,000,000, men had come forward (Cheers.) Tie recruits available immediately numbered over a million These Wonderful and encouraging results showed that the country was prepared fnr any call for a sustained effort and continuous self-sacrifice! (Cheers.) ... ■ Voluntaryism v. Compulsion, There had been considerable controversy in the autumn whether the people could best do their duty by the country by preserving voluntaryism or bv some form of general compulsion. These differences of opinion had o the Cabinet. He believed that the differences still Sted Knalh he would be 110 party to a Bill providing for general compulsion h. S v d T sllouW h f 6 i eel! , glacl if ho could have'done without sary ! ® & su PP orter of voluntaryism, he considered it neeesNot only Lord Derby, but the employers of labour and tho voluntary canvassers gave him overwhelming evidence that his pledge was necessary and showed that married men who were ml ling and anxious to serve were holding back in largo numbers before they committed themselves, needing tho assur*' ance that the single men would do .their duty. Unmarried, men eeneralTv were better soldiers than the married, because the latter generally liad mora responsibilities. If no assurance had been given there would have been scr* ous danger of the whole campaign breaking down, and where should we