New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-11-03
ASOUITH GIVES
SERBS NEW HOPE
Continued from page !

Continued from page
p successful conclusion. and winch
trusts the government, by whomsoever
controlled. 10 use every means 10 tne
attainment of that purpose.
at is true" he continued, that 10
day some parts of the horizon are over
cast. This. like other wars, has been
fruitful of surprises and disappoint-
ments. The moment calls for three
things-a proper sense Of perspective,
q limitless stock Of patience, and over
flowing reservoirs Of courage, both ac-
tive and passive"
Mr.. Asduith referred to the small
coterie Of professional whlmperers
which kept our enemies supplied daily
with a diet of falsehoods." The gov
eminent. he said. had no interest IN
concealing anything, subject 70 the
one overriding consideration that lts
disclosures would not assist Great
Britain's enemies.
How England Stands To-day.
GLOW do VIC stand to-day" asked
the Premier. "ln August OF last year
we were prepared to send abroad SIX
infantry and two cavalry diVIsl0nS, III
The onerations described By Field Mar
sbal French in his last dispatch he had
under his command not far short OF a
million men. To these must be added
the troops az. the Dardanelles, In Egypt
and in other theatres OF war, as well
"a our garisons and troops in reserve
Glow has this gigantic force been
got together, by a power wnlcn mas
To,.or esnjred 20 be a military power!
First nv the manhood Of the United
kingdom. In the last fifteen months
We Rave recruited"- Mr.. Asquith nes-
itated. then remarked, 81 do not like
70 give the exact figure of men.
"The contribution of India was
snlendid." he continued. canada con-
tribnied 10000 officers and men, Aus
tralia % 600. New Zealand $4,000, South
Africa. after a brilliant campaign SUD,
dung the Germans, sent $500, and
Newfoundland 1000. Ceylon, FIJI ana
other parts of the empire all sent con-
aEo account is taken in these figures
~ preparation for maintenance OF
these units in the field"
What the Navy Has Done.
Turning to the work of the navy in
Transporting troops, the Premier said
hat , 500 900 officers and men had
been carried. in addition TO 320,OOO SICK
and wounded, 100000 tons oil supplies
and 300 COO horses and mules.
"IJp 10 the present" he added, the
Loss ~ life in the whole of these gu
gantic overseas operations has been
considerably less than oneMnth oil
nor cent. There never has been any
hing comparable in history to the ser
vice Of the navy.
There they are-the men Of the grand
Neet-livinq unnoticed, unadvertlsed,
Reforming with an efficiency and
vigilance which cannot be described,
hut which has cleared the whole high
seas. from one end to the other, OF
German warships and mercantile ma
rine. Where is the great German meet
unon which so much money was spent
Locked up in the Baltic! 1t dare not
sbow its face i'm waters where 1t can be
attacked. The whole maritime re-
sources of Germany have been reduced
10 sporadic and constantly diminishing
efforts of submarines
Gains Since April Last.
In regard TO the western front, Mr..
Asouith said he had nothing to add to
the dispatches from Field Marshal
French except TO say that, on the bal
ance. since last April the Germans had
not gained a single foot Of ground.
"That. indeed, is an understatement
of the case" he added.
Referring TO the eastern war thea
tire, the Premier paid warm, tribute
10 the fighting qualities OF the Rus
SLAMS and expressed confidence IN thelr
ability before long to roll back the
enemy"
As TO Mesopotamia. Mr.. Asquith re-
marked. the British object was 10 pre-
serve the neutrality of the Arabs. safe
guard British interests in the Persian
Gull and uphold the authority of the
Union Jack in the East. ..,.
"Our victorious force is now within
measurable distance of Bagdad," he
continued. "No operations have been
conducted with greater brilliance or
with better prospects OF final success
Turning to the operations In the
Dardaneles. for the launching OF which
Winston Spencer Churchill, then First
Sea Lord Of the Admiralty)--the gov
eminent felt justified in sanctioning
that attack.
From the moment Turkey declared
war it was impossible to concentrate
attention solely on the western front.
Problem More Than Strategic.
The Turks threatened our Russian
allies and Egypt. The advent OF Tur-
key produced a great effect on the
Balkan States, and the government had
to face question which was not mere
~ strategic.
an a great war like this you cannot
determine the policy entirely by naval
and military considerations. Sometimes
il is not only expedient but necessary
to run risks which clear naval or mill
tary considerations would have warned
you against In January we had not
sufficient military forces available in
the East 10 do more than cope with the
Turkish attack on Egypt, which was de-
feated. The question Of naval attack
in the Dardanelles was then considered,
and. after full consultation with naval
experts. including the admiral on the
spot notwith standing some doubts in
the mind Of Baron Fisher (then First
Lord Of the Admiralty govern
ment felt justified in sAnctioning that
attack.
"The proposed attack was carefully
considered. II WAS approved by the
French and Enthusiastically received by
the grand duke. The matter came again