ARMY OF 3,000,000.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16025, 17 September 1915, Page 8

ARMY OF 3,000,000.

WHAT BRITAIN HAS DONE.

ADVANCES TO THE ALLIES.

MR. ASQUITH'S STATEMENT.

London, September 15.

In asking the House of Commons for a credit of £250,000,000, Mr. Asquith said that 3,000,000 men had enlisted since the beginning of the war. This credit would carry Britain to the third week of November. The expenditure had been at the rate of £3,500,000 a day net during the last 56 days. The main cause of the growth of expenditure {was advances to the allies and the provision of munitions.

The net expenditure of £3,500,000 a day was increased to £4,200,000 by advances to the allies. The army and navy from April 1 to September 11 cost £371,000,000. The army expenditure in September was estimated at £2,000,000 a day. The present vote made a total of £1,262,000,000. One might assume that the future weekly expenditure would not exceed an averagje of £35,000,000.

These were huge figures. He did not say that even now the country was doing all that it might or ought, but the attempts being made to belittle and disparage British efforts had most mischievous results. Continuing, Mr. Asquith said: "We have vastly exceeded any standard dreamt of before the war, but as we proceed the war is constantly making new requirements and demanding new sacrifices in men, munitions, and finance. We have to raise and equip armies and ships, repair the wastage of men, and secure the influx into the decisive theatre of ti ■

war of a steady stream of trained men and an ever-growing supply of apparatus. The war positions in France and Flanders have been strengthened, and large reinforcements have been despatched. We have made substantial additions to artillery ammunitions and also an extension of the line.

" While the operations in the Dardanelles have not succeeded in dislodging the Turks from the crests of the hills, there have been substantial gains. No words of admiration can be too strong for the army's gallantry and resource, es-

.pecially that of the Australians and New Zealanders." (Cheers.)

Masterly Russian Betreat.

The Germans had succeeded for the time being in forcing back the Russian fighting line, but the retreat had been conducted in masterly fashion, and the army was still unbroken. The autumn was rapidly advancing, but the German objective was yet far out of reach. The Tsar's assumption of the command was significant proof of the unalterable determination of the Russian people. All this confirmed the view that this war was to a large extent a war of mechanism, organisation and endurance. The situation was a testing one.

Progress in Munitions. The Minister for Munitions had established 20 shell factories, and IS were in course of construction. Eight hundred thousand persons were now employed in the 715 controlled establishments and the 18 foundries taken over by the Department. All now needed to complete the work was an adequate supply of labour. None could do the work better than women. If women stepped forward there would be no hindrance put in their way by the employers or the men.

Since the outbreak of the war almost 3,000,000 men had offered themselves for the army and navy, though there were signs of a falling off in the recruiting during the last few weeks.

The casualties were over 381,000, but the rate of recovery from wounds was such that the net wastage was very considerably less.

Sincere Diplomacy.

Continuing, Mr. Asquith said: "We are liable for advances to 1 other, countries of not much below £250,000,000, and have by no means reached the ultimate limit. Victory seems likely to incline to the side which can arm best and stay the longest. That is what Britain means to do. The year's survey calls for satisfaction at the great effort and sacrifice made, and regret at some mistakes and miscalculations. It does not call for recrimination, which is the cheapest and least fruitful form of self-indulgence. Our duty is to satisfy the allies' legitimate requirements and discharge the unique burdens imposed on a free people. To-day we realise more clearly the sincerity of our diplomacy through the mists of sophistry and mendacity with which Berlin sought to obscure and befoul the international atmosphere. We also realise the passionate love of peace with which we sought to avert the catastrophe of a world-wide conflict.

Spectre of Domestic Strife. " I have no doubt regarding the ultimate triumph of the allied cause upon the stricken field. One thing to be deprecated is the sinister spectre of domestic strife. (Cheers.) Don't let it be said that in the greatest moment of history our arm was shorn of its strength or there was any failure to concentrate upon an unexampled task the consentient counsels, undivided energy, and unbroken and indomitable will of the British people." (Loud applause.) It is officially announced that the vote of £250,000,000 covers, not only the navy and army, but all such war expenditure as payments for the restoration of credit, encouragement of trade and industry, the facilitating of raising funds for the Dominions, protectorates, and allied Powers.