Great Britain

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 60, 10 July 1915, Page 5

Great Britain

COMPULSORY SERVICE.

THE GOVERNMENT'S POSITION.

United Press Association. (Received 9.20 a.m.) London, July 9

The Rt. Hon. Walter Long; (President of the Local Government Board), at a conference with local authorities, said some people believed the Government's hands were tied in regard to compulsory service by Mr Asquith's answers to Mr, Percy Alden (member for Middlesex), but the Registration Bill .stands or falls by itself. Mr Asquith was the last person to say anything in the present situation which would prevent the Government adopting compulsory, service if it were necessary to terminate the war. The Government's hands were absolutely free.

Mr Long added that he would not remain in the Ministry if they hesitated to adopt any necessary measures.

On Tuesday Mr Alden asked whether the registration foreshadowed forced labor conscription, to which Mr Asquith replied that no such change was contemplated. The voluntary enrolment of workers was highly satisfactory, but it had not affected the necessity for national registration.

CANADIANS INCREASE FORCES

The High Commissioner reports:— .London, July 0 (G.iso a.m.) Ottawa states that the Canadian expeditionary forces are being increased to 150,000.

THE RESOURCES OF ENGLISH MANHOOD.

WHAT THE DOMINIONS ARE DOING.

(Received 10.30 a.m.) London, July 9

Lord Kitchener said lie was glad of Liie Lord Mayor's invitation at die Uluid Hall to make another and larger uemand upon the resources of hngiisii maiiiioou. Our thoughts naturally turned to the splendid efforts oJ the Dominions who, throughout had ranged themselves beside the Motherland. The Indian armies really were first in the iield and tne Canadians closely followed and were now associated with their Anglor'rench comrades iu Flanders, presenting a solid and impenetrable front. The Australians and New Zealanders, combined with the AngloFrench forces at the Dardanelles had already accomplished a feat arms almost unexampled in its brilliance, and \\t.'vc pushing the campaign to a successful conclusion. Jn each of the great Dominions new large contingents were preparing. South Africa. not content with the successful accomplishment of an arduous campaign in uonth-West Africa, was now offering large forces for Europe.

ARDUOUS AND PROLONGED WAR

THE NEEDS OF THE MOMENT

MEN, MATERIAL, MONEY. (Received 9.-50 a.m.* London, July 9. ! ord Kitetiener. continuing, said that Britain, while strengthened by the unflinching support of her fellowcitizens Overse.i, seeks to develop her own military resources to the utmost, limits. There was vital need lor imi'v and still more men. The situation in this respect was immeasurably hei/tor than it was' ten months ago, but the position to-day was at least as serious as then. Napoleon said that the three necessaries of war were money, money, money, but our greatest nee Is of the moment are men, material,money. The marked success of .the war loan was due to its favorable reception in the city. The energetic efforts or the newmunitions department were overcoming the difficulties of supplies. He had taken up the office as a soldier, not us ii politician. He had early given warning of the certainty of a war which would be arduous and prolonged, and be wa* of the same opinion now.

GERMAN PREPAREDNESS.

WHAT WE HAD TO MEET.

TIME TO CO A STEP FURTHER. (Received 11.40 a.m.) London, July 9. Lord Kitchener went on to say that the Germans' thorough preparedness was due to the strenuous highpressure and unremitting efforts of forty years, and they had shown a military organisation as complete as it was perfect, and elaborately organised for imposing Germany's will upon other nations. Her vast resources and the military strength wielded by an autocracy were peculiarly adapted to conduct a war, and her long preparation enabled the instantaneous use of the whole of her resources. Our policy is to gradually increase our effectives. It had been truly said that Germany must decrease and we must increase. The voluntary system was the Nation's deliberate choice, and necessitated an Army in peace time of slender dimensions with a capacity for potential expansion. We had habitually relied upon time being allowed to increase our armies during hostilities. We had therefore made an unrestricted call for men for a larger army in the greater need for overswelling numbers. To maintain full strength something more was now required to ensure enlistment of the large reserve which was imperatively needed. Gallant soldiers in the fighting line were beckoning with an urgency which is imperious and were pathetically urging hoinestayers to come out and play their part. Therefore they must go a step further to attract those who, from various causes, bad not yielded to their patriotic impulses. The national registration, when completed, would enable him to note the men between nineteen and forty years of age, who were not required for munition or other necessary work, and steps would be taken to secure the enlistment of all possible firstly from the unmarried.

SATISFACTORY RECRUITING.

STEADY STREAM WANTED.

(Received 12.30 p.m.)

London, July 9

Lord Kitchener went onto say that our military situation in August, therefore , was normal, and it became the immediate task, concurrent with the despatch of the First Expeditionary Force, to raise new armies and provide a strong, steady stream of reinforcements and to maintain the army in the field at full fighting strejigtli. There had been a satisfactory constant flow of recruits. He believed the recent slackening in recruiting Mas largely due to temporary influences. It was difficult to exaggerate the value of the response to his previous appeals. He then made another for volunteers to come forward to defend their country. He was unwilling to ask men in excess of the equipment available, but happily the limitations of material was surmounted by sufficient arms and clothing to convert all the recruits into efficient soldiers.