THE WAR

Horowhenua Chronicle, 4 May 1916, Page 3

THE WAR

I.FIB FBKie ABBOCIATION.j AT VERDUN. London, Kay «. Tho High Commissioner reporte:— - In The Champagne the French cans> nonade has been directed against r& >• victualling convoys north of NaVarin. b In th« Argonne a strong German i reconaiesance was dispersed north ol - Hara&e. , Weefc of the Meuee artillery activ'tj B was oontinued in ihe course ot +<he - night rrom the region oi Ayocourt to i Morfnomrae. 5 East of the Meuse the yeeter. s <lay evening ibriekly attacked soutrij east of Fort Dotiaumont. The Ger- . man firnt trenda iras occupied an a front of about 500 mefcree and 100 . prisoners were taken, i Freeh information states that the j French attacks on Saturday and Sitn- ; day .against the elopes north of Mort- - J honinie gained! a front ot about 1000 . ; metres o<f enemy trenches to a depth I hptween 300 and 600 metres. \ THE BRITISH FRONT. London, May 2. Sir Douglas Haig reports:—The . German attacks waet of Ypree and north of Albert broke down under our fire wfthout reaching our lines. THE COMPULSION BILL.

London, May *. In the House of Commons the Rt. Hon. H. H. Xsquith eaid that as the hotrnne gaietl a front of about "000 had not met with general acceptance he proposed to deal with the -whole recruiting problem in a single measure which he" was introducing tomorrow. The Empire's -total naval and inilMtary effort since the war Had exceeded five million men. The exTsting machinery would not provide quickly 200,000 married men, who •wore required to keep up the Army'e strength and provide for contingencies in the summer and autumn campaigns. Tt was the country's plain duty to providle these men. The new Bill would provide general and immediate compulsion. There wae- no reason to believe that general and immediate compulsion would provide much larger numbers, but it lad the immense advantage of abolishing piecemeal treat-, men*. The speeches laet week, especially of the Laborites, showed a desire to settle the -tFnole controvers3- once and for all. The Rt. Hon. H. H. Asquitli appealed for unity in the interests rf the country and its effects on the Allies and the Dominions. Hie answer to criticisms of the Government's allsged indecision, delay, and half-hearted-nt«3 was: Even though there had perhaps been blunders in policy and strategy, the British contribution to 4 he common cause was growing steadily, andi was better directed than ever before. The Allies' naval and military situation, as a. tvhole wsjs never so good ae to-day. Tho Rt. Hon. H. H. Aequith aaid that the Government would treat ('"Tticiem with indifference while they had tlie people's confidence. If they ! iad not, let the_House eay e», ao*l find more efficient men. They would not findi moire zealous or more loyal men. {They could not carry the heaviest burden ever laid on the shoulders of British etatemen unless €hey had {he sympathy and trust ot their fellow countrymen. The Rt. Hon. H. H. Asquith added that, the war Ti*d increased the army from six regular, iourteen territorial and six overseas dominions' flivisions regular, 28 territorial, 12 overseas, and one naval division, making 83 divisions. A ZHPPBLIN RAH>. ijondon, May 3. F*ioM Marehal French reports:—Five airships attacked fhe north-east of Engflamd last night and southeast of Scotland. The movements of the raidere are uncertain. A iw bombs were dropped) in Yorkshire. There are no details.