Second Edition. Great Britain

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 26, 6 January 1916, Page 6

Second Edition. Great Britain

EVE OF A GREAT OCCASION. SIMMERING EXCITEMENT IN London, the question of compulsion •Uwted Press Association. \ ''(Received 11.'20 a.m.) ".., .' Loudon f January 5. Without doubt the country is on the eve of a great occasion ; for the House of Commons is on the eve of a momentous decision. London is - "Sihifilerirfg with excitement, which is gradually working to a climax. Everyone is asking himself what will be the fate of voluntaryism Will * the House docilely accept the Cab* inet's decisions? Will the Labor Conference be convinced, after Mr Asquith's and other speeches? Even the Cabinet's decisions remain in doubt,, and it is believed the Cab-' . inet's final steps will not be settled until the eleventh hour. The excitement is" infectious and there is a?n animated spectacle at Westminster, where the public are* wakening the arrival of prominent politicians. x The lobbies were crowded, Lord , Derby and Lord Islington being 'among the numerous peers in the gallery.

In the Commons, Sir J. Simon occupied a seat in the second row, • above the gangway, whence Mr • Churchill farewelled the House. Mr Tonnant caused, a painful sensation' in a crowded House by announcing the casualties at Loos as •23:78, officers and 57,288 men. • Mr Asquith was cheered when he -rose and introduced the Military Service (number two) Bill. He commenced with a whole-hearted eulogy of the patriotism revealed by Lord iterßy's figures. Mr Asquith said the Derby results would 'convince the Allies and the enemy also that the people of the United Kingdom had their heart in the'war and were prepared to meet any call. Speaking for himself, he was of opinion that no cast* hail been made out for gen? ' feral compulsion. * Tlie v presentßill could be sincerely supported by those who, either from principle or—as in his own case—on the groiiirtl of expediency, were opposed' Ho Coiiseviptibn. The pledge was being given to married men, because there was overwhelming evidence that the married men were holding bac'K in large numbers. If such assurance were not given, the whole campaign would break down. When the pledge was given there was no signs of protests or remonstrance, and the effects were very considerable.

MISCELLANEOUS. V London, January 5. The 'House of Commons agreed to the -motion of Mr Lloyd to add. a clause in the Munitions Bill .providing a minimum wage in controlled munition, works. . It-,,j& hoged_ • that this will lead tq these men "suspending trades union restrictions. The °Sbciety of Sunday Journals is. boldly stating that Lord Kitchener is going to India, >as Viceroy, in ~ March. Other papers forecast his • appointment as ' Generalissimo in the . Mediterranean'; ; with supreme direc- ." tion of the Near Eastern problem. General Sir W. Robertson is drastically re-organising the General Staff and. rapidly changing its personnel. He has appointed a new Director of Military Operations, and created the position of Director of Military Jni telligence. !