MOTHER COUNTRY

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVI, Issue 16992, 20 October 1915, Page 7

MOTHER COUNTRY

NATIONAL SERVICE. BRITAIN’S MAN SUPPLY. By Telegraph—Pte39 Association— I Copyright LONDON, October 18. Tho “Daily Chronicle” says that the national register shows that there are 1,900,000 men of military age in Great Britain not engaged in munitions, productive industries or railways. Allowing for those physically unfit, tho number available for the Army is 1,250,000. BRITAIN’S NEEDS. THREE MILLION MORE MEN. ENEMY’S GREAT RESERVES. (Received October 19, 9 p.m.) LONDON, October 19. Brigadier-General Sir Eric Swayue, speaking at .Hull, said Britain needed three million more men before the spring. He estimated that Germany had still between nine and ten million men of ages ranging from eighteen to fortyfive. It. was useless to talk of wearing out Germany, but if Britain raised an additional three million the German numbers would be counter-balanced, and the enemy would recognise that it was fruitless to continue the war. Britain did nat want conscription, but

unless three million were recruited b,\ the spring the military authorities could not be held responsible for the result. NEW ZEALAND WOUNDED. HOSPITAL TREATMENT. LONDON, October 18, New Zealand convalescent soldiers are generally satisfied with their hospital treatment. Many oomplain of the poor quality of the uniforms supplier! on discharge,, as they will prove unsuitable if the men have to spend the winter in the trenches. The War Contingent Association is supplying the men with warm underclothing. Prince and Princess Louis of Battenburg visited and chatted with the' wounded New Zealanders at Mount Felix, the Walton-on-Thames Hospital. BRITAIN AND FRANCE. MUTUAL ASSURANCES. “ STEADFAST CO-OPERATION. ’ ’ (Received October 19, 9.45 p.m.) LONDON, October 18. R-plying to a cordial nvesage from M. Viviani, following the Cabinet changes, assuring Britain of France’s unchanged policy. Sir Edward _ Grey telegraphed an assurance of Britain’s continued and steadfast co-operation which was strengthened by tin event', of the past year and by the combined heroism of British and French fighting side by side in the same great cause. EMBARGO ON CLOVER. A RUSSIAN DISCOVERY. USED IN ENEMY’S GASES. (Received October 19, 0.0 p.i u.j LONDON, October 19. Russia has prohibit'd the expert of clover owing to large importations by Germany for the manufacture of poison gases. QUESTIONS IN COMMONS. THE DARDANELLES. AN INQUIRY SUGGESTED. (Received October 19, 9.45 p.m.) LONDON, uotooer iii.' The Parliamentary correspond'lit of the “Daily Telegraph” says that the present week promises to be of ex ceptional importance. The notice paper bristles with questions _ relating to tlio war, and reveals a critical attitude towards Ministers. The Government will be asked to give facilities to debate the appoint ment of a Select Committee to inquire into the Dardanelles campaign. Other ouestions will include one a" to whether the Cabin't ns a whole auctioned the naval attack on the Dardanelles. Another question i* whether in view of the interest of Australia and N'w Zealand rt-quP" will make a statement at an early period. It is considered improbable that M Asquith will agree to a general debate. TfJE BRITISH CABINET. . SIR E. CARSON RESIGNS.' LONDON, October 13. Sir Edward Carson nas resigned. (Sir Edward Car .on became Attorney General whei the National Cabinet was formed on May 26 last.) NEWSPAPER TRIBUTES. WHY SIR EDWARD CARSON RESIGNED. (Received October 20, 12.35 a.m.) LONDON, October 19. The newspapers, except -the “Dad.' Nows,” regret Sir Edward Carson's re agnation and pay a tribute to his force of character and d ggod lionet;, and determination. ■ Hi- r sigr.atio • was due to a difference regwd.ag the Balkan policy, not conscription. The “Morning Post” states: “ De spite Sir Edward Carson’s urge d com el the Governor nt allowed the ques don to drift. ■ Wo trust now tliat Si Edward Carson has resumed his free dom he will force the Government t see the dang'rs it is bringing upon t'country by refusing to look plain fact in the face. If Sir Edward Carso leads he will have a following.” POLITICAL SITUATION. RUMOURS OF CABINET DIFFERENCES. (Received October 19, 9.45 p.m.) LONDON, October 18. There is con adorable int rest in Unpolitical situation in view of the questions of tne Balkans and conscrip tion. Sir Edward Carson was absent from four Cabinet meetings. Lord Kitchene visited Mr Asquith on Monday and a full meeting ox Cabinet was held. The “Westminster Gazette” say:that Sir Edward Carson holds strong opinions on an important aspect of the military policy and informed his col leagues that unless his views prevailed lie would withdraw from the Government. The “ Globe ” states that there are well-founded rumour> that the Cabinet was divided on Sir Edward Grey’s refusal to allow Parliament to drbate the foreign policy. The Government’s! failure to say whether it would hold on to or abandon the Dardanelles, and whether Serbia was to bo the victim of another Antwerp expedition, wa i sowing mistrust in the mind of tne nation. Other evening papers point out that the inception and conduct of the Darda-' nelles campaign and the diplomatic failure at Sofia are appropriate matters for strict inquiry, but that no good purpose will be served by wrong ling in Parliament. ' The present is not a time for words but for resolute, decisive action. GOVERNMENT’S PERIL. SPEECH BY MR JOHN REDMOND. (Received October 19, 11.30 p.m.) LONDON, October 19. Mr John Redmond, at a Nationalist convention in Dublin, said that th » existence of the Coalition Governmen was precarious and was threatened with internal and external dangers. Their was a powerful conspiracy menacing its very existence, made up of men-ready to sacrifice national unity in the fae' l of the enemy in order to further their own predilections and theories. Any day they might be faced with reconstruction or with proposals which would instantly end the political truce and rend the British people into contend ing factions. It was common talk in political circles in England to-day that a general election on the lines of fiercest contention might arise. Happily, Ireland was not in any degree responsible.

CONSCRIPTION QUESTION. DISCUSSION BY THE NEWSPAPERS. (Received October 20, 12.55 a.m.) LONDON, October 19. The newspapers give prominence W the “Manchester Guardian’s” outspok'u leader demanding a frank statement of the measures required to enable the country to fulfil its national ob'igations. “ There are a good many indications,” the “Guardian” says, “ that the Government hns no defin'd views on this subject. If so an undecided Government must of necessity be a we°k Government.” , : Tlie “ Daily News ” says: “ Conscriptionists believo that a Ministerial crisis will result in a Conscription ist Ministry and believe that it is only neoes■ary to get the prudes purged from nres-nt Govern,-rent and to reconstruct it on Cui-zon-Churchill-MilneT 1 ner. This is fatally wrong. Such a Ministry would rouse the country to bitter resentment. The nation is pro- . pared for any sacrifices but looks with. profound alarm and indignation on those who are making its perils the sport of their personal ambitions.” The “Daily Chronicle” says: “Unless the compulsion zealots restrain themselves they will jeopardise thd existence of the Government and destroy the unity of the nation. An attempt to rush a d'ei-ion on conscription until I/ord Derby’s plan has been fairly and honestly tried is inimical to . the best interests" of ■ the nation. The only way the nation can be induced to ocquiesoi in compulsory service js an assurance from * sympathisers with volnntarv principles ldte Mr. Asquith, D'rd Kitchener, Sir Edward Grey and Mr Balfour that voluntaryism will not give the men needed.” •