MOTHER COUNTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 April 1918, Page 5

MOTHER COUNTRY.

MORE MEN OR DEFEAT. GUSH CONSCRIPTION. THE GOVERNMENT FIRi

Received April U, 8.40 p.m. London, April Id. In the House of Commons, Sir George Cave (Home Secretary), iu- iuov ng me second reading of tlie .Man Power Bill, was subjected to considerable Nationalist interruption until the speaker intervened. Sir G. Cave said the Government believed Irish conscription would be worth while, if only live divisions were ob- . tained. The Government did not believe an army would be necessary to en- " force conscription. There was already a considerable number of troops in Ireland for the preservation of oruer. Though Home Rule and conscription were not intended as two sides of a bargain, Ireland could not get Home Rule other than by fighting with the kingdoms in the common battle. Mr C E. Hobhouse moved an amendment: "That while recognising the gravity of the situation and the urgent neecsbitv for giving all possible suppo;t to the Allied forces, the House of Commons is of opinion that the Bill diminish** the nationV naval and economic power without addiug commensurate military strength." Supporters of the amendment drew Mr Lloyd George's attention to his Statement that the enemy's strength was inferior on the West front, and asked: "Why, then, have we not taken advantage" of our superiority to assume trie 'offensive?" The proposals, they argued, would produce .an avalanche of unfit men. probably less than three per cent, of wohm would be useful for military purposes. The army now was making no effective use of the lower grade men. Mr. Dillon stated that tkl ereirtain France were the only justification for the Bill, but the proposals could not have any possible effect in redressing the recent misfortunes. The combingout scheme would provide real reinforcement*. Raising the age was unnecessary. He believed the trouble on the front was not the lack of men, out was due to the system of promoting officers. The "old gang" was still in control of tlie army. He described the Bill s« a delusion and an attempt to blind the people. The real purpose was to divert public attention from the causes of the disasters on the front. Tlie Irish Bishops >'had warned the Government that the Bill would break down law and order. The Irish front would become for midable, because it would be a sontllet wherein England was morally wrong. The influence consequently would spread to America and Australia. He believed the Government was enforcing conscription jn order to enforce its Home Rule pledge*. He challenged the Government to take a plebiscite in Ireland on conscription, which in any case would yield probably no more than 80,000 and imperil Britain's food supply If the deed were persisted in, Britain's moral position before the world would have gone Mr- Aaqnith gravely doubted whether raisin" the age would produce the expected results. He had been overwhelmed with communications from all parts of the country, pointing out that the proposals would denude vital businrfirn of the remaining indispensible men. He himself believed the result wtyoki not increase, but diminish, the national effort* available for war. He regretted the tribunals had been swept away, thus preventing the consideration of special cases. Irish conscription had been rejected twice or thrice by the Government. It would have been much easier two years ago. It should not be imposed without Ireland's general consent, which was not forthcoming. It wai only imposed in Britain when general assent was secured. In a free Empire we most take things and communities as they are. The additional manpower from Ireland by conscription would not balance the drawbacks. The Msh revolutionary, movement was now waving, and it would be a terribly shortsighted step to accompany Home Rule with this obnoxious proposal He concluded by appealing to all parties to endeavor to reconcile Ireland to the Empire in order to preserve an unbroken front Mr. Bonar Law said the Government agreed with Mr. Asquith's suggestion to give more time for the consideration of the Bill, which necessarily would create controversy. The Government did not wish to aggravate discord, and must liwttfy the proposals- It was useless to conceal the position from ourselves What had happened in Prance was not trpeeted. That was why the Government introdnced the Bill. Until fie eomm/fteeraeftt of the battle the balance of forces was not against the Allies. Hd<l.»r these ciiranr.'tances the Government, it well M A!s?d military advisers, believed that If ft* *teur attacked we

fan no danger of anything fatal happening. Mr. Bonar Law, proceeding, said that members of the House of Commons were repeatedly • asking why we did not exercise the initiative. Even if the Government or army leaders ought to be changed, the demand for men remained. Unless we were prepared to face the position we must prepare to face defeat. A successful offensive against entrenched positions was only possible with the whole weight uf th? Allies. -'The Government had established unity of command, believing that : f the Allied armies were used as one what was ;iow a dangerous situation | might lie changed to advantage. If the ' onomv fails in his present plans the re- | suit would be most serious for him He I would consider Mr- Asquith's suggested j maximum ago of 4S. The Germans would J persist month after month. The GovI ernment's figures showed that unless the | casualties became much heavier the mOBt ; critical time would be the end of May ior -Tune. If the battle lasted another I right months the men now. being reI fruited would be available. Therefore ! there must not. be any unnecessary delay. The Government was aware of the inevitable ofl'ect os trade' and industry, nnd had deliberately made up its mind f'at a risk nu"f be taken in the. face of a creator risk, believinz it might mean the difference between victory and defeat. If the Government announced the life of the nation was at stake, but could not ask Ireland to help, there would he an end of Home Rule. It was a mistake to suppose the Government introduced Irish conscription as pious opinion. Thev intended to carry it out. (Cheers.) It was formerly estimated that Ireland could provide 120.000, .but the new conditions would srivp many more. The Government, deliberately weighed the advantages and disadvantages. If wrong tlie Government should jv>e changed.

Mr. Bonar Law concluded by inviting tlie opppnents of Irish conscription to onnose the second readinsr. If tj>e country thontrht tlie Government was making a mistake, the latter would support any other Government carrying on the war-

CLOSING OF THE DEBATE. AN EXTRAORDINARY SCENE. BILL READ A SECOND TIME. Received April 11, 11.55 p.m. London, April 11.

There was an extraordinary scene at the closing of the debate. When Sir Auckland Geddes rose to sum up, the Xationalists shouted: ''Duke! Duke!" The Speaker vainly appealed for order, the scene lasting a quarter of an hour, though Mr. Dillon appealed to his friends to allow Sir A. Geddes to be heard. Finally. Mr. Bonar Law pointed out' that Mr. Duke (Irish Secretary) intended to speak on Irish matters later. Sir A. Geddes said tlx' army authorities and the Chief of the Imperial Staff considered the Bill vitally necessary. There was no alternative except to let the armies down, and lie was certain neither parliament nor the country would do that The closure was carried, Mr- Hobhouse's amendment being defeated by 3*21 to IC, and the Bill was read a second time.