Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1915-12-27
British Minister Of Muni-
tions Warning of Great
Crisis
WOULD ANNUL RULES
Saws American Workmen May Do
What English Mechanics Are LA
Bile Not 10 Accomplish. ,i ,rf ~.

London. Dec. 27.-"If the skilled
workers of Great Britain do not agree
10 relax or suspend their union ruies
we face two alternatives" declared
David Lloyd George, minister OF NUM-
tons, addressing 5000 Clyde Line Off
cials and workshop stewards at Gias-
gov on Christmas.
''We can 90 to the trencnes anc
say to the soldiers:
"'We are sorry we cannot get the
necessary guns to enable you to WIN
through in 1916, because trade union
regulations stand in the way. If you
hold out another year perhaps Amerl-
r.ln workmen will help us get you 4
sufficient supply for 1917.
"The other alternative is that we
send to the Kaiser and tell HIM
frankly that we cannot go on. He
might let us off with the annexation
of Belgium. the payment of huge
indemnity and with British colony
or two. He certainly would demand,
however, that Great Britain surrender
her command Of the sea, and Great
Britain then would be as completely
at the mercy of Prussian despotism
rs Belgium is today.
.o--o+ 1,o1;o,,a fbot ba ctilTo1
workmen Of Great Britain will give
us this answer. Time is vital, time is
victory, and time is life. There have
already been $4,000 casualties, in
cluding more than 100000 since the
agreement between the traces unions
and the government in March. Far
ther delay means further losses. |
appeal to the worknen to help us
quickly and thoroughly.
"Victory is not possi'le unless the
British workmen follows :he example
Of his French comrades and sets
aside every rule and regn."tion that
tangles the footsteps Of vIctc7y"
Mr.. Lloyd George was urging that
the unions suspend their. rulings
against wiemen:in order that'a greater
number of skilled workers might be
diverted to.;mulitipns factories: Upon
the number of heavy guns and pro-
jectics that could be produced, he
declared, depended the fate OF the
army. The minister of, munitions, eS-
planned how the gun and munitions
factories were being organized and
declared that $4,000 skilled workmen
were needed for the: new factories.
"The Russian retreat" he said
"was: due TO the aid of the German
workman gave his :comrades in the
field by manufacturing an endless
supply of guns and. shells.
"The French workmen have en-
abled France to successfully face this
terrible machine. y
II cannot 60 back to Parliament
and report to the House of Commons
Rad Through the commons to The
army. that British. workment won't
relay or suspend their rules to save
fellow-workmen's lives on the battle
field :, = =
II wonder how many people fully
realize the magnitude of this war ant
lis tremendous issues. At times
fear they treat it merely as pass
ing shower But it is not a passing
shower. Tt is the deluge; it is aycy
clone which is tearing up by its'roet'
the ornamental plants of modern
society and wrecking some Of TIT
Fiimsy, trestle bridges of moderl
civilization. -" =.
''It is an earthquake which is up
heaving the very rocks of European
life. 1t is one of those seismic dis
turbances in which nations leap for
ward or fall, backward generations i
Il single bound.
"Alt'this 'chattering about relaxin
rule and suspending custom is OF
of place. You cannot haggle with a
earthquake. :.
81 beg the skilled werSmen Of tn
country, in whose kcping are the 90
trines of LABOR, to lift up their ey!
above the mistssof. distrust and au
picion and ascend the height Of t,