New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-09-16

pie
Mr.. Asquith said that the total Of
Britain's loans to- other belligerents
was s250,000 900
lie referred 70 the high total Of cas-.
ualties and said that the proportion OF
those who recovered from wounds was
large.
This Is a war Of mechanism, organi-
cation, endurance" he continued. vic
tory seems likely 70 incline 20 the side
that can arm itself best and stay long
est. That is what we mean TO do.
The Premier deprecated all recrimi-
nation.
"Our business is 20 deal with the
present. and forecast and provide for
the future" he said. I'VE have SAT,
isfed the legitimate requirements and
bones OF our Allies, and we have TO
discharge the unique burden imposed
upon a family Of free people by our
own sense OF responsibility and our
standard Of duty and sacrifice
No Time for Domestic Strife.
One thing Mr. Asquith opposed was
"the sinister spirit OF domestic stri1e'
eve must all be ready 70 give and
take. and take and give" he said,
"and il must not be said that IN the
Greatest moment Of our history our
arm was shorn Of its strength BY
am failure on the part Of either rulers
or ruled 70 concentrate upon the un-
exampled task the oonsentent ooun-
sells. undivided energies ana unbresk-
able. indomitsble will Of the British
"The situation Is a testing one.
survey of the last year calls Tor sat
isfaction at the great efforts and sac
rifces made. and for regret that some
..-l. =. 4 Galatians have been
made.
To-day we realize more clearly,
through the mists Of sophistry and
mendacity in which Berlin seeks 70 Cd
scure and befoul the international at
mosphere, the sincerity Of our own al.
plomAey and the passionate love OF
peace wherewith we sought 70 avert
The catastrophe of a worldwide con-
fict
1T was the imperious call Of duty
which forced us to vindicate our ma
tional honor and enlist our whole
strength in the sacred cause OF Tree
dom. | have no doubt either OF the
wisdom Of our choice or OF its ultimate
triumph on the stricken field
The adequacy OF the air service was
the subject of some criticisms by mem
bers. and brought q reply from Arthur
J. Balfour, First Lord of the Ad-
miralty. who admitted that the pro-
visions which had been considered suf-
hcient AZ the beginning Of the war had
20 be materially developed, He said
however, that the service was now pc
jne supplemented far more rapidly
than was the danger it was organized
20 meet.
Baifour Discusses Air Raids.
Tb.r. had been n. great strain, Mr..
Bhlfour continued. on the supply OF
anti-Aircraft guns. The development OF
an aerial offensive had not been fore
seen before the war. but the naval air
service was now OF great dimension.
81 cannot say" Mr.. Balfour said,
"thnt there will be a discontinuanee OF
the attacks on London, but no one VIII
suggest that such methods OF terrorism
are going in the slightest degree 10
shake the resolution of the British peo-
pie" .
Mr.. Balfour frankly admitted that he
was much surprised 10 discover when
snnointed First Lord Of the Admiralty
tbat he was responsible for the aerial
service. which had only a remote con-
nection with naval work. II the gov
ernrnent had set TO work three or TOUR
years before, with full knowledge OF
The reouirements Of aerial warfare, ne
said. the defences Of London would un-
doubtedly have been much better or
eanized. but he hoped that the or
eanization was now in fair way TO De-
come complete.
The changes already made had been
very great. and all were in the way Oh
dealing adequately with the new ana
great responsibility. No better assur-
ance could be given the House that the
7 the
most careful attention than the ap-
pointment of Admiral Sir Percy Scott
TO take charge of them.
In respect TO the protection provided
against Zeppelins, London had been un.
favorably contrasted with Pans, said
Mr.. Balfour. Such a comparison was
most unfair. Paris was fortified city,
in fact a great fortress, whereas Lon
don was not fortified city. None
knew that better than the Germans,
and under the rules Of civilized war
fare London should be immune from
the attacks 10 which she had been sub
jected. But he confidently hoped that
the efforts of the Admiralty would lead
N a great diminution in the danger
which might be expected from German
airships.
After Mr.. Balfour had spoken the
debate turned on CONSUMPTION. John
Dillon. Nationalist, for East Mayo, We
hemently denounced it. He said that
Pitt had tried it during the Napoleonic
wars with success. but II would be
madness TO try the experiment again,
especially before the country was thor
ourhly informed on the matter.
Stephen Walsh, Laborite, said that
so per cent of the members of the
House OF Commons elected to support
the voluntary system before abandon
ing il for CONSUMPTION. There must be
overwhelming and unassailable evil
dence. he declared, TO support the in
novation.
David Marshall Mason, Liberal, re-
gArded the utter crushing of Ger
many as a military impossibility. He
expressed disappointment that the
PremierJs speech did not give some
hope Of an honorable and early ter
mination OF the war. He thought the
House was entitled 70 a more definite
declaration OF the governments policy
than it had yet received.
On motion for adjournment Mr..
Mason raised the question concerning
a report that Germany had made peace
overtures.
Lord Robert Cecil, under Secretary
for Foreign Affairs, replied that Ger
many had made no peace proposals, nor
could he imagine any being made at
the present time which would be &C
ceptable 10 the Allies.