CONDUCT OF THE WAR.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 November 1915, Page 5

CONDUCT OF THE WAR.

DISCUSSED IN PARLIAMENT. 11R. ASQUITH'S SPEECH. varied" criticisms. :.LK. KBDMOND'S VIEWS. London, Nov.' 3. Mr. Jolin Redmond said that Mr. A.squith's proposal, with reference to the Cabinet, would silence the wreckers for th* tiiue -being. He was against imposing compulsion. Unless the country were practically unanimous it would bo a folly and a crime. The voluntary system had not had fair play in Ireland, where hitherto the Government and the War Oft'ice had given neither assurance nor sympathy. Despite discouragement there were between three hundred and four hundred thousand Irishmen in the army, including 115,000 in Britain, and there were Irishmen in the Canadian, Australian, and New Zealand forces.

Mr. Barnes did not object to Mr. Asquith's statement. The safety of the State must be the supreme consideration and if it became absolutely necessary to bring in compulsion for the young unmarried men who did not yet realise their duty, he supposed it was justifiable, but the time had no,t come. Lord Charles Beresford did not think that Mr. Asquith's speech would relieve the nation's anxiety. The Government now knew they would never get through the Dardanelles. It was altogether wrong for Lord Kitchener to conduct the war while in the Cabinet. Mr. Asquith's cynical and callous doctrine of waiting to see was absolutely fata! to success in war. Hitherto we had had no proper plan of campaign. The naval authorities had never been consulted about tlie Dardanelles operations, but had simply been told to do it. A large army ought to have been sent to Serbia in the first instance, instead of embarking on the blind gambling risk at Gallipoli. ! Mr. Whittaker deplored Sir Edward Carson's speech, which would, have a disastrous upon the colonies and the Allies. It looked as if Sir Edward Carson had taken to moonlighting. A debate followed upon the formal motion for adjournment, which consequently terminated without a vote. The Times says that Mr. Asquith's speech is a record of shortcomings :.nd the acceptance of responsibility. The Premier said the situation called for patience and courage, but three other essential qualities, foresight, initiative, and energy, had hitherto been conspicuously lacking in the Government. In the House of Commons debate Mr. Churchill, replying to Mr. Molteno's question inquiring what he referred to in his Trafalgar Day letter, when he used the words, "Through our long delays the enemy seized a new initiative in the Near East," explained that he referred to the delay incidental to joint f.etion in military and diplomatic affairs by the various Allied Governments wlio .share the responsibility. Lord Robert Cecil said it was essential to stop Germany's export trade. She would then lbe unable to pay for her imports. American statistics sho'.ved that' we had stopped 30 per cent, of her exports. The blockade was ?. great success and moreover had been carried out without serious trouble. The imports of cotton from neutral Powers into Germany had practically ceased on June 1.

Mr. Amerv condemned the Government's refusal to face the facts in the Near East.

Mr. Chaplin said lie was unable to understand Mr. AsquHh's opinion that national service would be unworkable except with the general consent. Sir J. H. Dakiell said they had been told that a general had been retired for his work at the Dardanelles, but actually four generals had been retired. He asserted, on the authority of a member of Parliament, that a number of our men at the Dardanelles had died of thirst, yet the man responsible was still in the service.

NEW WAR COUNCIL. ; ii OB ABLE MEMBERS. London, Nov. It is expected in the lobbies that the new War Council will include Mr. Asquith, Lord Kitchener, Mr Lloyd George, Sir E. Grey, and Mr. Balfour. Mr. Aaqnith has announced a further vote of credit for next week.

IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS. STINGING CRITICISM. UNSIfIP MR. ASQUITH. London, Nov. 3. Lord Middleton, in the Hou3C of Lords, gave notice of hi:; intention to ask the Government to exercise more effective supervision over the control of naval and military expenditure. Lord St. David's explained that his reason for suggesting .summoning the Priv.v Council was to endeavour to find a suitable place where to criticise the action of the Government. He said: "We have reached a point where criticism is very necessary. The coalition has not led to any noticeable increase in the vigor and prosecution of the war, [but has effectively killed parliamentary | opposition. Both France and Russia were changing their Governments with a view to getting the most perfect instrument to carry on the war. No man had a right to a place in the Government by reason of rank or wealth, and the only test should be usefulness. Br this test great changes will be necessary in high places." Loid Willoughby de Broke saiu that Parliament was the proper place to discuss the question. Mr. Asquith's speech had not enlightened anv intelligent person. If they could get rid of the Grand Duke Nicholas in the middle of the war they could get rid of Mr.Asquith.

MR. BONAR LAW. IN ACCORD 'WITH SIR E. CARSON. Received Nov. 4, 8.30 p.m. Lomlon, Nov. 3. The Globe states that Mr. Bonar Law was almost in complete agreement with Sir E. Careon, and intended to resign at the same time, but was induced to reconsider his decision.