BRITAIN'S MILITARY OBLIGATIONS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 169, 11 April 1919, Page 7

BRITAIN'S MILITARY OBLIGATIONS

THE SERVICES BILL MR. CHURCHILL REVIEWS THE POSITION By Telegraph-Press Association-Copyright (Rec. April'lo. 8.30 pfnY.P < londonj-jiinril 9. The House of Commons earned the i third reading of the Services -Bill after ■ Mr, Bonar Law moved, the closure. The Labour members,'including Mr. J. R. dynes, and some of the Liberals, bitterly attacked the Bill, and described the measure as an attempt to continue the war Army. The Lcaguo of Nations, they said, might as'well'decree the number required for fv.';uro eventualities. Jlr. Nowbould, iii his" ; 'iuaiden speech, pointed to the West -Leyton by-election result as an indication' of the country's opinion of the Government's ■ broach of faith. Sir Edward Carson deprecated the op- i position to the measure, which was the lir.est tonic for Austria and Germany. lir. Churchill said' that it was-'impos-sible to secure, voluntarily,; before the Pi-ace Treaty was ratified, Wore than a (ruai'ter of the number required They had secured only 70,000 hy re-enlistment. Six thousand soldiers oh the Rhino had sinned ou for another year, The cost of : : the Army of Occupation would ba £243,000,093 per annum.-; -We were entitled to deduct for its up- ; keep. Mr. Churchill added;—"Wo are. main- ■ taming in Germany 264,000 soldiers; in. j Italy, 10,000; in India/' between 60,000 and 70,000; in the Middle East ! and the Caucasus, 75,000; potamia, 30,000; Egypt and ■ Palestine,' ' 60.000; Northern Siberia, and Russia, 20,000; France, 120,000, while non-combat- ■ nuts were clearing up the battlefields. The Government contemplated 'keepipg : in Britain 170,000 men, and in Ireland j ■H'.OOO. This was not a formidable Army t) maintain the security of the Empire, uphold our position in Europe, and win : the victory. Mr. Thome's motion for the rejection, of the Bill was negatived.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. . -