The Daily News. TUESDAY, JANUARY 18, 1916. LABOR'S OPPOSITION TO COMPULSION.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 January 1916, Page 4

The Daily News. TUESDAY, JANUARY 18, 1916. LABOR'S OPPOSITION TO COMPULSION.

It is difficult for tlio citizens of the overseas dominions to understand the attitude of the organised workers in the Homeland over the Compulsion Bill. At first sight it would seem to the unbiassed spectator that the workers would welcome such a measure, on the ground that it treated all the manhood of the country alike, whether they are peers, members of Parliament, millionaires or miners. Had the Bill been intended to compel only the workers to join the colors there would have teen some .sense in their opposition to the measure, hut it makes no distinctions save in granting exemptions to certain people who might well he expected not to come within its provisions. What makes the attitude of the organised workers the more incomprehensible is the fact that large numbers in their ranks have enlisted, and special provision is made for n sufficiency of workers being retained to curry on the industrial work of the country and the manufacture of necessary munitions. It is unthinkable that British labor would rather sec the war lost through their obstinacy than abate one iota from their hostility to the principle of limited compulsory service. At the same time their throat of a national strike cannot be ignored, though it is not at all likely that this threat wjll have the slightest effect on the passing of the Bill, the second reading of which was carried by 431 votes to 29, only three Labor members voting with the minority. The recent Labor conference was decidedly hostile to the Bill, so much so that the three workers' representatives in the Ministry resigned their portfolios, but it is most satisfactory to learn that these resignations have since been withdrawn. A sidelight was thrown on the attitude of the. workers by Mr. A Henderson when he made an emphatic lenial of the senseless suggestion that the Bill contained an insidious menace to industrial freedom. That he should

:.;uo thought it necessary to take such a course implies that the suggestion had been subtly employed to stir up the opposition of the workers to the Bill. It is evident that the workers have no real cause of complaint ovoi the Bill, so that it may he assumed that their opposition is intended as a lever for gaining material benefits or concessions. Mr. Asquith was able at a private conference with the labor leaders to secure satisfactory results, and it is not undue optimism to expect that those leaders could, if they so desired, disarm the opposition of the men they represent, and remove misconceptions as to the position. Had the workers objected to being compelled to remain at their work instead o. going to the front their opposition would have evoked sympathy. There is a screw loose somewhere, and it behoves the sensible men of the Labor party to adjust the machinery and prevent the breakdown of trade and industry by means of a strike. At this critical period of the nation's trials there should he no friction or irritation. The exercise of commonsense and the realisation of the national peril should unite the manhood of the country, in the. same way n*. it has done in France, to forward the one. great resolve-to achieve victory, no matter what may he the sacrifices involved. All that the workers are contending for is .vliat they regard as tha principle of freedom of action. What is imperative is unity of action, so that the whole nation may he. one in their aim and in their determination to defeat the enemy. There will be time enough after the war to arrive at eonelusions on minor matters.

He draws attention to the fact that u Russian named Bloeh, prior to the Boer war, declared that war was played out, because, when combatants were fairly equal, entrenched infantry would nullify the most brilliant strategy and attacks by superior numbers, resulting in a deadlock. He contrasts this modern theory with what he calls one of the marvellous maxims of the dark ages, which states that the army which entrenches is defeated, and lie asserts that until the battle of the Manic the war was conducted on the loose mobile 1900 pattern, The Germans, being confident in their overwhelming number;, then abruptly made u change, adopting the entrenched system. So did the Allies, much to Germany's surprise and disappointment. Those who have followed the developments of the war at the various fronts may have been somewhat puzzled to account for the adoption of the digging-in tactics and the amount of science brought to bear on the construction of shell-proof trenches. The most notable examples of this new method are to bo found in the annals of the struggles on the West front and at Gallipoli. We have seen how it has 'been possible to hold on to certain positions for an almost indefinite period by trench defences, and on the West front the enemy has not only been driven back from one line of trenches to another in succession, but has lost heavily in this now process of weaving down their strength. At Gallipoli the Allies were able to hold out for a long period, and could have continued doing so, if deemed advisable, against very superior numbers. There is, therefore, some evidence to justify Block's contention that unless a sudden peace occurs the war can only end by the succumbing of the most exhausted s-fid immobilised of the shattered antagonists. There was more than one aspect of the new system that Bloch did not take into account, such as the employment of poisonous gas and barbed wire, the use of aerial craft, and the co-operation of a navy such as that possessed by Britain. That the trench system has come to stay is evident, for by its use a comparatively small force can hold its own (if adequately equipped with munitions) against large masses. Germany would not have so readily adopted the new tactics unless they were advantageous, and the Allies were equally alive to the importance of the system. Henceforth wc may expect that troneh warfare will be adopted for all its is worth. Until some new engine of destruction is invented to shatter trenches, war will become a test of endurance, in which the side that can wear the other out will win. The new conditions will necessitate the employment of the greatest possible strategic skill, and the equipment of the troops with a profuse supply of the most effective artillery and machine-guns. We may expect in the coming spring to see some startling developments, but the trenches will still play a most important part in the war. The operations of the Russians in Galieia on Christinas day afford a striking illustration of what may be anticipated.