COMPULSORY ENLISTMENT FOR BRITAIN.

Colonist, Volume LVII, Issue 13978, 7 January 1916, Page 4

COMPULSORY ENLISTMENT FOR BRITAIN.

The Prime Minister has received th« followi&g bj cable from the High (!om> missioocr~

[London, Jan. 5, 4.40 p.m. Lord Kitchener, in the House of Lords, said that the voluntary system gave yesulte iar greater than most people had dared to-predict or our eneurie» contemplated. Recently, however, the voluntary system did not ensure the full provision necessary for trained reserves. Every effort was made by the Derby -canvass to repair the deficiency, and the Prime Minister, on behalf of the Government; gave & pledge regarding the military service of unmarried men.. It was now necessary to renew the pledge, in order to maintain the voluntary principle for the service «f married, men in the future. Personally he had hoped to finish the war suoceasftilly without changing the system. Hevdid not consider .the cnatge proi>osed as a derogation, of the ! principle^ of voluntary service in Britain, chly affecting as it did during th& war one ©isis», including a certain number with a txw iden of their duties up, citizens. No doubt, however, many reasons for awrfc joining would bo proved: tvalid, manj probably having conflicting calih and being only too happy to have the Government resolve their doubts. The Government was not asking sanction for a change in the special eiroumfitanoeo, it being proved that the 'eisting svsrtem, if not modified, was unequal to ill© maintenance of tho army I needed to eeeure victory.

London, Jan. 5, 4.55 p.m. !. The Compulsory Enlistment' Bill iniiroduced by the Government confines, the Derfry scheme to tho area excluding Ireland. In the House of Commons, Mr AsIquith in ■introducing tho Compulsory Enlistment Bill t saw* ifc was confined !to redeeming Lord Derby's pledge. [The. present Bill would bo siipportetJ iby opponents of conscription. Tho enilistnv*nt ficurea were wonderful, and [ would conTiiwe our Allies and our enemies equally that the British had put ! their heart in tho t war and were pre~ ;pa red to make sacrifices. I London, January 5, 5.35 p.m. ! Mr AsqoiiVs Bill h applied to mates ■ I»i the British Isios 18 to 41 years of age, ■nmxaaxriec! and widowers without depeudent children. Th© Bill is to ooino into ■operation 11 days after receiving the Koyal assent, tho appointed day to be 21 days later. There are exeroptione for conscientious objectors to fighting, lar men required for national industries, for sol© supporters of poor persona, for men in ill-health, and for men suffering from infirmity. Enlistment jb fc fiie period of the war. Th group system, has beori reopened, by the nsabtary authorities to allow, men still to «uiat.