MR. LLOYD GEORGE REVIEWS THE SITUATION

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2902, 14 October 1916, Page 9

MR. LLOYD GEORGE REVIEWS THE SITUATION

< RUMANIA TO RECEIVE THE FULLEST SUPPORT Australian-New.Zealand Cablo Association. . " ■ (Rcc. October 13, 7.15 p.m.)

London, October 12. ■ In the House of Commons, Mr. Lloyd George stated that the Government was fully alive to'the necessity of giving the fullest support to Rumania against the enemy's vicious attack. There .was not the least doubt that Ger-man}-was concentrating troops with the view of crushing Rumania in a spirit of,hatred, in addition to military interests. The War Office was satisfied with the performances of the tanks. There had been very considerable success, and thero was hope iof oven better services alter improvements and further experience. • ' Ho proceeded to say that conscription had been justified, and had already produced a-very considerable number of men. It was too early to estimate the full results of the Military Se.rvico Acts, but he was able to say that they produced a , force .without which it would have been-impossible to carry on tho war. Further numbers would be available by restricting the- exemptions which he admitted were much over-numerous. The actual numbers of exemptions would startle the House. "Where exemptions in other democratic countries amounted to hundreds of thousands, our exemptions were at tho rato of millions." This was the richest country in the world before the war, and should be the richest after the war." He believed the Government possessed power to deal with: exemptions, if not, 1 he would ask tho House to take steps to render the country's entire resources available. All the wealth and man power of the country must.be utilised to the utmost to win the war. ■ Regarding the present position, he said we had sufficient' men, but "wo must look ahead to the possibility, of a prolonged campaign. It would he folly to do .otherwise.., If the war ended at an earlier date than anticipated, our preparations for a prolonged campaign would 1 , not interfere with trade and commerce, but if it was longer than some people anticipated, and we had not made preparations, the result would bo exceedingly disastrous for us. "We must lay the foundations for the war extending over a long period. That is how to ensure victory. Some members talked of broken homes and health; there arc such things as broken treaties aiid faith. The future must be based oil the foundations of public faith,' and unless that i s established Europe-wide and world-wide now', and at all counts, depend on it, instead of broken homes for a few yoars, we .will suffer for generations and centuries to come."