THE RUSSIAN TASK.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XL, Issue 12728, 23 December 1915, Page 5

THE RUSSIAN TASK.

ijt'ci'ivcl Dro-iuber --i, "t 1.30 a.m. I'otrogr-id. Dwoinbor 22. A <-oinimini<|Uc> states: Our aviators MirtosM'iilly bombed the rear apj»ro:iehe> to tln> enemy's position in tinivoir.nv- region cast <;f Sviontziany. panic amongst t!i<> convoys. Our tir«- ivpresseil tlie enemv's atipmpted offensive* ai Xovo Aloxin-itz. CONSCRIPTION. MR IIED.MOXD DKIMIF.CATIS COM PULSION". Jleceived December 22, at 11.35 p.m. London, December 22. In the House oi' Commons, Mr John Redmond .said that it would bo pitiable it the moral effect- of Lord Derby's recruiting was destroyed by compulsion of any section of the communitv. He did not believe there were any shirkers. If compulsion were proposed he would oppose it by every possible means. Air Stanton (member for Mcrthyr Tydvil) made his maiden speech. He said that- it was hypocritical nonsense to say that the country was afraid of conscription. He urged that-the slackel.:. should be gathered in, including the youths who married in order to dodge their responsibilities -by hiding behind the skirts of the womenfolk. Air Dillon (Nationalist member for Alayo) said that Air Asquith's speech was deplorably lacking in justification for the raising of this fourth million, which was the road to financial ruin. Ho warned the Government that IreI land would not tolerate conscription.

The debate generally voiced the danger of depleting necessary industries in order to secure recruits. It was frequently pointed out that- if further men were taken from the woollen and cotton industries, these industries would be at a standstill.

Mr Redmond added that Mr Asqnith had said nothing about continuing or abandoning voluntary recruiting. A decision would have to be made soon. Received December 23, at 8.15 a.m. London, December 22.

Mr Tennant said that an order to fulfil the Premier's pledge to married men. the Government might have to take further powers, but he believed that in so doing, it would have the support of the majority of the House and of the people.

LAN HAMILTON CONDEMNED. LONG DELAYED REPORT. Ri-ceived December -2, at 9.35 p.m. London. December -'2. In the House of Commons, .Mr John Redmond made a iierce attack on Sir lan. Hamilton. "It is something scandalous.-'' lie said, "that this despatch has not been published. Unfortunately. I am iti possession of information which points to the fact that the ■whole truth cannot be jmblislied with advantage,, but there is no despatch at all. What is the meaning of this?" 3lr Asquith :■ "The Government only received the despatch recently." .Mr Redmond continued: ''Sir lan Hamilton was recalled in order to get hie report regarding the ghastly failure of his action. I blame the Government for not insisting on getting the report."

deceived December 22, at 11.35 p.m. London, December 22. In the House of Commons, Sir Edward Carson said that the only criticism of ilio Army Vote that he had to offer was that it- came too late, and was not large enough. It was a greatpublic scandal that we had not heard a single word about the Gallipoli operations. Now the withdrawal was heralded as a kind of victory. Why were the troops left during August, September and" October in a kind of heli while someone was making up his mind? This want of decision was a blot on the management of the war.

Received December 23, at 8.15 a.m. London, December 22. In the House of Commons, Mr Tennast deplored Sir E. Carson's accusation of dilly-dallying in connection with Sir lan Hamilton's despatch, which reached the War Office on Monday. Sir lan Hamilton, who was a writer of distinction, had taken time to polish his periods.

CERMAN CASUALTIES. Hi-c 'ived December 22, at 11.35 p.m. London, December 22. In the House of Commons Mr A. Tennant stated that the casualties published in the official lists of Prussia. Saxony, Bavaria, and AYurtemburg to the 30th November totalled 2,524,460. WAR IN THE HOUSE. Received December 23, afc 8.50 p.m. London, December 22. The House of Commons preserved, a silent attitude. Lords Fisher and Derby and prominent peers were in the gallerv. Mr AsquLth dealt with most of. the questioners, in terse, sharp sentences, but . his speech was interspersed!_• with passages of deep feeling, particularly when he referred to . the gallantry of the Australians and New -Zealanaers, and the necessity for the rigorous prosecution of the war. CERMAN REALISATION OF THE TRUTH. BRITAIN MAKES AN IMPRESSION. Received December 23. at. 8.50 p.m. Amsterdam,. December; 22. \ Moralit, in the - Berliner'- Tageblatt, says: We" have abandoned all illusions and know we are engaged in a life and death struggle. .. We could, wish that Britain would. realise. the imposjbility of crusliing us. The- present ag'ony is no use to anyone. We, like the French are-forced by losses, to put water into our. wine', ..but Britain is piitting wine into, her water and has created an army larger and'> better. than the German militarists had foreseen. CERMAN WAR LOAN. Received December 23, at-8.50 p.m. Amsterdam, December 22. •i The Reichstag approved -of >tlie'fi.vc million credit. • A Socialist posed the vote for the purpose of showin 2 their disapproval of political conquests. SOUTH AFRICAN REBELS. BRITISH MAGNANIMITY. Received December 23. at 8.50 p.m. Johannesburg. December 22. The prisoners of the rebellion were released on the payment of fines and the signature oi" a i>ledge to abstain from political agitation. The rebels are gratified and regard their release as practically a Christmas box. I Amsterdam. December 22. The newspapers comment on the i Prfrish magnanimity towards De TVet and contrast the German methods, j where the bullet would probably have been his fate.