THE CALL FOR MEN

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 175, 13 April 1918, Page 7

THE CALL FOR MEN

OPINIONS ON THE BRITISH MANPOWER BILL WORLD-WIDE APPROVAL AUSTRALIA AND IRELAND OBSTINATE -■ London, April 11. The ever-increasing seriousness of the news from the front disclosed in tlie communiques strongly influenced the House of Commons on the second reading of the Man-rower Bill. It is evident no one wants a change of Government, still less a general election, so the firmness of Mr. Bonar Law in sticking to the letter of the Bill proved a source of strength to the Government. Mr. Bonar Law's direct challenge to the House to throw out tho Government if it disapproved of the oxtension of conscription to Ireland was so bold and uncompromising that it took evervbody abacs, and touched the Imagination of the majority members.

Sir Georpo Cave was also loudly cheered for saying: "It is said that resistance mil ho offered in Ireland. If that Is Soi the resistance will be overcome."

Mr. Dillon's speech included' an Intensely bitter attack on General Gough, whom ho accused of involving tho Irish divisions on tlireo separate occasions in disaster. ' He concluded by declaring that Irishmen no longer trusted tho British Government, and if conscription were imposed the Government would have to hold Ireland for the remainder of tho war under strict military law.

Telegrams from Dublin stats that conscription is the only topic of dismission. It it understood that the. Sinn Fein lias issued orders to all sections of Irish volunteers regarding action in tho event of conscription. . -Fiery speeches havo. been made in many publie bodies against applying the ManPower Bill to Ireland. Homo Kulp. is not discussed at all. The recruiting authorities are hampered by the fact that there is no register 111 Ireland. A big effort will bo necessary to weed out the many Englishmen, Scotchmen, and Welshmen who came to Ireland to escape military servioe—Aus.-N Z. Cable Assn. • facinglhTworst SIR AUCKLAND GF,DDES OX THE OUTLOOK. London, April 11. Sir Auckland Geddes (Minister for National Service), speaking in London, said we were going to .require vast numbers of men. He wished he was able to telf the figures, but that would give tho enemy most valuable information. Ho realised that the Man-Power Bill would mean death or disaster to many industries, but that was a lesser evil than a military disaster. None know how the great battle would result; it might end with the German occupation of the French Channel ports. Thei\ we should need a great army in England.—Reuter.' BRITISH ENGINEERS BACK THE . . GOVERNMENT. London, April 11. A new ballot taken by tho Amalgamated Society of Engineers favoured the Government's comb-out proposals by 58,650 votes to 46,632. —Reuter. MINERSINDTHE CALL (Rec. April 12, 7.5 p.m.) London, April'll. The Miners'* Conference in " South Wales voted, by 2273 to 763 111 favour of allowing tKe : Federation to supervise the military combing-out scheme.—Reuter. SINN FEIN LEADERS AGREE TO : CONFER, (Rec. April 13,\1.35 a.m.) / ' London, April 12. Do Valera and Griffiths (the Sinn Feiners) have consented to confer with Messrs. Dillon and Devlin (Nationalists) regarding conscription.—Aus.-N ,Z. Cable Assn. THE BILL IN THE HOUSE GOVERNMENT FORCES THE PACE. (Rec. April 12, 7.5 p.m.) London,' April U. In the House of Commons, Mr. Dillon protested against the Government's | plan to dispose of the Irish cJauges of the Bill on Friday. It would be outrageous, he-said, to confine the debate to a single day.' He charged the GovJ eminent, with deliberately withholding the Convention's report until after the Irish--debate. - . ;Mr'.. Bonar- Law denied that the Government was delaying: publication rA the-report.- ' The delay was due to tho -printers r at'Dublin. _ ,Mr. Healy, suggesting the allotting of another.-day for a secret session, added: "We can tell you something. of thft truth' you have not yet heard regarding the consequences of conscription in Ireland." Mr. Bonar Law moved the guillotine motion,' allotting three days for the committee stage of tho Bill, and another day for the report and third reading stages, and also prohibiting dilatory motions. : Ho said that this was the first occasion on. which the Government had so acted since the war began, and tho urgency of the measure | was its justification. The military authorities had_ urged the Government to summon Parliament for this special purpose. • Mr. Holt moved an amendment givI ing'fo'ur.days .to ri the committee stage. ' Mr. Bonar Law accepted this, but proposed to sit 011 -Friday night and Saturday afternoon. The amendment and proposals were carried. Sir John Spear moved to reduce the age limit. to 48, but Sir Auckland Geddes stated that if the Government wont much further in taking men of present military ago it would seriously hamper tho country's war effort. He implored the House to realise that they wero dealing with a complicated problem. Talcing all the men of present military age would be one of a hundred ways of losing the war. The Government only proposed to take 7 per cont. of the men between 40 and 50 this year, leaving 93 per cent, in civil life. The right course was to give tho widest range of choice. Sir Edward Carson appealed to the Houso to pass tho Government's Scheme unamended, which was based 011: Sir Auckland Gcddes's careful and conscientious inquiry into tho whole problom. —Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. 48 AGE LIMIT DEFEATED. (Rec. April 13,' 1.35 a.m.) London, April 12. In Committee 011 tho Man-power Bill an: amendment' substituting an age limit as forty-eight for fifty-one ivas ' defeated by 262 votes to 152.—Reuter. PRESS OPInINTN AMERICA IRELAND URGED TO BE REASONABLE. Now York, April 11. : All tho newspapers discuss the proposal for conscription in Ireland. The New' York "Times" 'says:—"lf any Irishman thinks that resistance to conscription will find favour in tho United States ho. is grossly mistaken. It is time- that tho meu who talk so muoh.

about liberty took a part in defending it." The New York "World" says:—"lf Ireland is to have Home Rule, Englishmen have l the right to. insist that Ireland should not bo exempted from conscription." The "World's" London correspondent interviewed Mr. Dillon, who said that if the measure was persisted in an Irish settlement becomes impossible. The Irish Nationalists will resist the Bill bv every mea,ns in their power. Both North and South Ireland are solidly opposed to conscription, which would have horrible and far-reaching consequences. The New York "Sun'' says:—"lt is unbelievable that the Irish prefer German servitude rather than tho liberty for which the Allies are fighting."'

The New York "Herald" states:— "The Irish will not revolt if their politicians leave them alone." —Aus. N.Z. Cabfb Assn. OPINION IN FRANCE TRIBUTE TO BRITISH BULLDOG TENACITY. i Paris, April 11. The Military Service Bill has made an excellent impression in France. Tho "Temps" states that Britain, like France, has her existence at stake. British patriotism was never mora tenacious than in times of trial. The "Journal des Debats" says that if the Irish are not ppssessed by tha spirit of madness they ought to accept Home Rule and conscription, and thus enjoy an autonomous regime, and fulfil their Imperial obligation by giving tha Allies an Army of 300,000 men.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn. PATRIOTIC LABOUR IN SOUTH AFRICA UNANIMOUS RESOLUTION TO FIGHT IT OUT. Gape Town, April 11. ' In view of the gravity of the situation as revealed in Mr. Lloyd George's speech, it is suggested that South Africa should increase its brigade to a division. The Cape Province Federation of Labour hns passed unanimously a resolution calling upon every trades union to accept the challenge of fho foe and to lise its utmost endeavours to secure every available enlistment forthwith to ensure the future of democracy by a supreme effort and a speedy and triumphant peace—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn. RECRUITING*! SYDNEY REVIVAL OF INTEREST. (Rec. April 12, 10.10 p.m.) Sydney, April 11. A great filip was given to the recruiting in the Carmichael rally to-day, when 100 men volunteered. The Lord Mayor promised £500 to the first member'of Mr. Carmichael's thousand men to win the Victoria Cross and £200 for^the first D.S.O. —Press Assn. [Mr. Carmichael, who is returning to the front, is appealing for 1000 men to go back with him.] AUSTRALIAN LABOUR HANGS BACK DECLINES TO ATTEND RECRUITING CONFERENCE.

Melbourno, April 12. j The Trades Hall Council has relfusgf j to attend the Governor-General's M- j cruiting conference. —Press Assn. • (Rec. April 12, 10.10 p.m.) Melbourne, April 12. The Press is excluded from the re- , cruiting conference. —Press Assn. '