MOTHER COUNTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 January 1918, Page 5

MOTHER COUNTRY.

BRITAIN'S GREAT ARMY. SEVEN ANT) A HALF MILLIONS. NEED FOIi FURTHER MAX-POWER. ALLIES RELYING ON BRITAIN. Received Jail. 15, 11.35 p.m. London, Jan. 15. Sir A. Geddos, National Service Minister, in introducing the Man,-Power Bill, said man-power was the central war problem. The most urgent lieed of the present was men for the army. The position was that Britain's allies laid the heaviest burden upon Britain until America was ready. The Allies were still substantially superior to the enemy as regards men, despite the loss of Russia and Rouniania, but Russia's withdrawal had released. 1,000,000 enemy for the West front. The Empire had hithelrto raised seven and a half million troops. England had contributed 4,530,000; Scotland, «20,000; Wales, 230,000; Ireland, 170,000; and the Dominions and Colonies, 900,000. The anny immediately needed 420,000 to 450,000. It was untrue that the British Army afield was dwindling. It was still stronger than ever, but it was necessary to look ahead, and provide for. the rearward services. Sir Auckland Geddes pointed out tlmt the problem could not be solved dramatically. The Bill empowers the Director-Gen-eral to withdraw occupational exemptions. Apart from the army's needs, the labor-employing departments required a further 430,000 men and 119,000 women. Already 915,000 women munition workers were employed. Sir Auckland Geddes announced that the Government had decided that for the present the military age should neither be lowered nor raised. Compulsion had not ben introduced in Ireland, but the Government would not hesitate to adopt any or all of these measures if military needs could not be met otherwise.