TO-DAY'S NEWS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXV, Issue 8340, 6 January 1916, Page 5

TO-DAY'S NEWS.

IN BRITAIN

EXCITEMENT IN LONDON.

A MOMENTOUS DECISION.

HOUSE OF COMMONS CROWDED

IMPORTANT SPEECH BY MR ASQUITH.

"COUNTRY PREPARED FOR ANY CALL."

(Received January 6, 11.20 a.m.)

LONDON, January 5

There is no doubt that the country

is on the evo of a great occasion and the"Hous« of- Commons on the eve of a momentous decision. London is simmering with excitement and gradually working to a climax. Everyone is asking himself: What will be the fate of voluntaryism? Will the House docilely accept Cabi-. net's decision? Will the Labour Conference be convinced, after .Mr AsquithV and others' speeches, , and even Cabinet's decision, or will it still remain in doubt ?

It is believed that Cabinet's final stops will not be settled until the eleventh hour.

The excitement was infectious, and there was the most animated spectacle at Westminster, where the public were watching the arrival of prominent politicians.

The lobbies wore crowded. Lord Derby and Lord Islington were among the numerous occupants of the Peers' jGallery in the House of Commons. Sir J. A. Simon occupied a seat in the 6econd row above the gangway, whence Mr Churchill farewelled the House. ■..■•• ' ■ ' iur -Tennant created a painful sensation in the crowded House when he announced that the casualties at Loos j were 2378 officers and 57,288 men.

Mr Asquith was cheered when he rose to introduce the Military Service No. 2 Bill. He commenced with a whole-hearted eulogy of the patriotism rerealed by Lord Derby's figures, and said the results would convince Britain's Allies and their enemies that the people of the United Kingdom had their heart in the war suid were prepared to meet any call.

Speaking for himself, Mr Asquith eaid he was of opinion that no case had been made out for general compaltnon. The present Bill could be sincerely supported by those who either from principle or, as was his own case, on the gpotind of expediency, were opposed to oonscriptiozi. Tho pledge was given to married men because there

w»B overwhelming evidence that they were holding back in large numbers; if the assurance had not been given the whole campaign would have broken

down, but when the pledge was given there were no signs of protest or remonstrance and the. effects had been very considerable. . ,

Quoting figures, Mr, Asquith showed that nearly r ;3) 000,000 men had come forward. (Cheers.) The recruits available immediately totalled . over 1,000,000. These were. wonderfully encouraging results, ■ showing that. the country was prepared for any call for sustained effort and continuous selfeaorifice. (Cheers.)

There had been considerable controversy in the autumn as to whether we could best do our duty to the

country by preserving voluntai-yism or by inaugurating some;form of general oompuleion. These differences of opinion penetrated the Cabinet, and he believed differences still existed. Personally, ha would be no party to a Bill providing for general compulsion.

Mr Asquitk added that he would be glad if it could bo done without the Bill, but though he was a keen supporter of voluntaryism, he considered txbe Bill ira« a^tessary. Not only Lord (Derby, but employers

of labour and voluntary -canvassers gave him over whelming evidence that his pledge had been necessary.. They ehowed that while married men were willing and anxious to serve, they were holding back in large numbers before they committed themselves, needing an assurance that the', single men would be made to, do their duty. Single men were generally better soldiers than married men a because the latter generally, had more responsibilities. If no assurance laad been given, there was a serious danger of the whole campaign breaking down, and, he asked, where should we have been then?