Imperial Valley press., 1915-10-20
Cabinet Crisis Takes
Thought from Battles

London, Oct 20-Britain is waiting
anXi9uSly 10 learn whether the cabinet
ministers will be able To compose their
differences and continue the govern
ment without swapping horses in mid
stream.
The military difficulties which con-
front the Allies have taken position
Of secondary Importance for the time
being.
The cabinet has been holding long
and frequent meetings since the Bal
kan crisis developed.
Both newspapers and politicians
agree that vital differences of opinion
have arisen over the conscription is
sue and the Near East question:
In the meantime party newspapers
are carrying on bitter debate and
exchanging accusations of lack of pa
triotism and of placing party and pri-
Vate interests above those of the coun-
try.
The resignation of Sir Edward Car
son, attorney general, was the first
proof of differences in the cabinet.
The specific reason is withheld, as in
the ease of the retirement of Foreign
Minister Delcasse of France.
Speaking in Dublin last night. John
Redmond declared the position of the
coalition government was prccariouS.
ANY day we may be faced with an
other reconstruction" he said, "or with
proposals which would end instantly
the political truce and would rrnd the
British people into contending fac
tiOns."
The cabinet and the country as a
whole would regard a general elec-
tion on party lines as a calamity. If
such contest were fought ON the
question of conscription it might b."
expected to foment great bitterness
and class dissension.
The anti-conscription newspapers are
demanding that fair trial be given
to the plan Of voluntary enlistment
under the direction Of the Earl of Der
by before there is any further talk of
change.
Much discussion is heard of the in
lection of fresh and Younger blood into
the cabinet.
one complaint from the newspapers
is that a cabinet Of - members is
too cumbersome Il body to manage
the affairs of the government. On the
other hand there is said to be dissat-
isfaction in the cabinet that the con
duct of the war is given over 10 a
small committee.
The recall of General Sir Ian Ham
ilton from the Dardanelles and the
s'eeeseion % command Of Young
leader, Sir Charles Munro, may be sig
uificant of policy of bringing in new
blood.
Most of the generals holding high
commands are more than 60 years Of
age and there has been complaint
that the army is clinging to the old
peace policy of promotion by senior
ity alone, while naval officers in high
positions average more than 10 years
younger.
War Flyer Hits Chimney
London, Oct. 20.-A London firm of
glass manufacturers which has plant
at Maubeuge, France, received the fol-
lowing message:
",rhe chimney of our Maubeuge
works has been destroyed by a Zeppe-
lin dashing into it. All the occupants
of the Zeppelin were killed"
Suggests Parliament Dissolution.
London, Oct. 20-Seton Robert Ber-
psford, Il former army officer and
brother of Lord Decies, in addressing
a meeting in London today, suggested
that King George dissolve parliament
forthwith and assume command Of the
armies in the field. His suggestion
was put in the form of resolution,
which was adopted by the meeting.
Teutonic Advance Resisted.
Paris oct 20.-The SerVians are Of
fering stout resistance to the Teu-
tonic advance in the Semendria sec
ton, according to information from
Nish received by the Journal.
A wireless message sent by the Aus
trian general in charge there to Field
Marshal Won Mackenzen and inter
cepted by the Servians, is said 10 be
as follows:
"Impossible to accomplish my task
successfully unless you send heavy
reinforcements Immediately
1t is reported that a Bulgarian reg
iment refused to fight against the
Serbs at KadibogatZ, near KniageVatz,
and killed it's colonel.
The Austro German armies which oc-
cupied Belgrade appear to have ad-
vanced more than 10 miles south OF
the city, but the outcome of the fight
ing between Bulgarians and SerHianS
along the important Saloniki-Nish rail
way cannot be summer up so easily
At points, the northernmost OF
which is Vrayna, the Bulgarians as
sert they have reached their railway,
while to the south the Servians are
reported to have driven back the In
Vaders.
Both Athens and Paris maintain
that French troops gave occupied
Strumitza in southwestern Bulgaria,
hut there are available no official re-
ports relating to the struggle in this
quarter and none is expected until the
fighting reached more conclusive
stage.
Removal of General Sir Ian Hamil-
ton from command of the DardanelleS
force was received i'm England with
mixed feelings. coming on the heels
Of nOsSib1e Withlra wal