New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-09
BRITISH Gun RIVAL
OF 42-CENTIMETRE
Lord Haldane Tells Peers
of Success of Eng
lish Experts.
RECRUITING FIGURES
SATISFY GOVERNMENT
Lord Chancellor Declares Task
of Empire Is to Keep Com
mand of the Sea!

London. Jan. s.-After a two days
session. during which its members
heard statements from Earl Kitchener,
Secretary for War: ViscOunt Haldane,
Lord High Chancellor; the Marquis Of
Crewe, government leader in the House,
and Baron Lucas. on behalf of the gov
ernment. on the progress Of the war
and Great Britain's preparations TO
carry il on. the House OF Lords this
evening adjourned until February :,
when Parliament Will reassemble.
The Opposition was not very sue
cessful i'm securing from the govern
ment information on the growth OF the
army or on the operations of the navy,
regarding which its memb-rs persist
emily questioned the ministers; but,
generally speaking, the government ex-
pressed satisfaction at the rate at
which recruiting was proceeding, and
Lord Haldane declared that the neces-
sity OF compulsory service had not
arisen. The Lord Chancellor also an
nounced that experts in England were
producing a gun which at least was the
equal of the German 42-centlmetre gun:
The Unionist peers who criticised
Ireland's reply TO the call TO arms were
told that Ireland was doing her fun
share in the war.
A lighter vein WAS introduced INTO
ths discussion by some of the Scottish
members, who complained Of the kits
supplied TO the Scottish regiments.
Baron Moncrieff described these kits
as abbreviated ladies' hobble skirts"
Lord Lucas replied that the War once
had been unable TO get sufficient
stock of the usual material used IN the
L.. 4. L Ia lH
we have every reason to be salts
fed with the rate at which men are
coming into the army. but nothing will
draw from me the numbers recruited,
for the reason that the value OF such
figures 20 the enemy would be enor-
nous.
Germany Raising Many New Troops.
I'VE know that Germany is raising
large numbers of new troops outside
of the usual military organization from
a part of the population not usually
trained 10 arms" Lord Lucas eontin-
ued. NO information could be of
greater value to us than to have details
concerning the progress of that work
and how many men they are getting
and training. The number they have or
wish TO have would be information Of
the very highest military importance to
the Allies"
Lord Lucas informed the House that
Earl Kitchener, Secretary of State for
War. was satisfied with the rate at
which recruiting was proceeding, be-
cause ne was able TO supply equipment
at a rate commensurate Herewith. No
troops lit to 90 TO the front were being
kept back owing TO lack of equipment.
The Earl OF Selborne said he doubt
ed If the government had sufficiently
impressed the nation with the immen-
sity of the task the country was fac
ing. The first object Of the British
army was 10 turn the Germans out OF
Belgium. he said, and if the full sig
nificance of this task were realized II
would have a powerful effect on re-
cTuiting.
Lord Haldane. Lord High Chancel-
Tor, replied on behalf of the govern
ment. lie agreed with Lord Selborne's
estimate OF the gravity OF the crisis.
lie said he was one Of those who had
hoped that the more peaceful party IN
Germany might prevail, but he also
was so well aware of the danger to be
expected from the military notions
which had laid hold OF the mind OF
the German people that, while at the
War Office, he had set himself during
the years Of peace TO frame military
organization capable of the necessary
expansion.
Compulsory Service Opposed.
As TO the suggestion of compulsory
service. Lord Haldsne said he thought
this was bad thing, although in the
time of a grave national necessity II
might be necessary 20 resort thereto.
That time, however, had not yet come,
and the government could not adopt
such system without the gravest
considerations.
Referring to some Of the technical
problems Of the war, Lord Haldane
remarked that the Allies. at an early
period in the fighting, had been behind
in respect 20 great guns. This condl-
ton has since been rectified, he de-
clared
Since the British had discovered the
type OF the new German 42-centimetre
guns and the ideas embodied in them,
Lord Haldane said, English experts
had been busy producing satisfactory
equivalent therefor.
'"We are lighting for nothing less
than the life Of the nation the Lord
Chancellor said "in circumstances
which make it the duty OF every man
20 put everything he possesses and
values most into the scale for sue
cess. No victory can be sufficient
which does not preclude the recurrence
of the situation in which We now are.
The task is an enormous one, and It