GERMANY'S REGISTRATION.

Manawatu Times, Volume XL, Issue 13565, 2 December 1916, Page 5

GERMANY'S REGISTRATION.

Hollweg’s Defence. OPPOSED BY SOCIALISTS. (Aust. and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Received Friday,. 5.50 ]J.m. LONDON, Nov. 28. Herr von Bethmann-Hollweg, in the Reichstag, introduced the Compulsory Civilian Service Bill. He said: "The insatiable war is still raging. Our enemies liail last summer as victorious ; but can they impress their will upon us? Our lines arc still unbroken. God has helped us ‘hitherto, and will continue to help us, " Rumania, which was brought to a revolutionary change, is paying the penalty. "Our enemies do not desire peace yet. They are much superior numerically, and almost the entire world supplies them with war materials, with the results shown-in the Somme fighting. Every day war is prolonged makes the organisation of industry »■. more decisive factor. We are therefore determined to organise the entire industry of the whole nation. Compulsion can onlj r succeed if it represents the voluntary decision of the entire people.” He indicated that voluntary means would be utilised for carrying out the

mass levy before eompulsio'n was applied. The speakers generally approved the Bill, but a representative of the Socialist minority declared that the party rejected the measure because it deprived workmen of the right to choose their place of abode.. Even if the enemy were in Germany he could not treat the population worse than the Bill proposed. ’There was a great commotion and angry protests. Continuing his speech, Dr Hollweg,

said: "We are ready to terminate the war by a peace safeguarding our existence and our future. ” . Von Stern, the Minister of War,, Helfferieh, Minister of the Interior, and Herr Bassermami strongly endorsed the Bill. General Groener created a sensation in the Reichstag by crying, "! promise that just as Rumania has fared England will fare too, then later the whole bunch.”