The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-12-28
ENGLAND'S CABINET FACES CRISIS
ENGLAND

UNITED Press Leased Wire Service.l
LONDON, Dec. 2s.-The British
cabinet faced the oravese Internal
crisis Of the war when It met shortly
befors noon today, with the conscrlp-
tlon issue to be decided.
II was 4 current rumor that several
ministers would resign, possibly be-
fore the day Was over, unless the
government agreed on some form Of
compulsory service. David Lloyd
George, according to one report,
threatened to quilt last night.
On the other hand 1t was reported
In many quarters that Premier A.
qulth and possibly Sir Edward Grey
would leave the cabinet II the con-
scrlPtlon advocates won todays
battle. In that case It appeared GER
tain that LIoyd-Georoe would be eie-
waited to the premiership Of a new
ministry. ,hc issue, it was generally
believed, will be decided today. Par
lament meets tonight and unless .
definite announcement 10 forthcoming
from the cabinet council, the most
bitter debate heard In commons in
many months is certain to take place.
Opponents Of Asquith are primed
for their heaviest attack. They will
insist that the government admit the
failure Of the voluntary recruiting sys-
tenn or produce figures to show the
Derby campaign has been a success.
II is possible that more sertoua
charges than any yet made in parlia-
ment may be directed against the gov
ernnent in new investigation of the
Balkan and Dardanelies campaign.
The ministry's policy Of secrecy will
be denounced as one Of the chief rea.
sons for failure. Lord kitchener's
administration Of the war office may
come under fire in an inquiry into
the reasons behind the appointment
Of Sir William Robertson as chief Of
general staff and other recent radical
changes.
To forestaIi attack Of the conscrIp-
tionists, whose forces Will be aug.
mented by the critics Of the Dardan.
elles and Balkan policies, the ministry
must take decisive action tody.
f~s6ut acceptance oftti1e conscription
policy was equally certain to bring
down on the heads Of the ministers
tonight the denunciation Of the irish
party and labor leaders.
The Daily Mail 10 authority for the
report that LIoyd-George threatened
to resign. Il said the minister Of
munitions told Premier Asquith that
he would not continue in the cabinet
unless AsquIth kept his pledge 70 the
married men. This pledge, as given
out officially on November II, follows:
"The premier pledged not only him.
self but the government when he
stated that II the young men did not
under the stress Of national duty come
forward voluntarily, other and com.
puIsory means would be taken before
married men were called upon to full
fill their engagement TO serve"
Hintins at q wide split az the result
Of today's meeting, the Times, leading
the campaign for conscription, decIar.
ed editoriaIly today:
"There are certain elements which
cannot work together indefinitely and
the cabinet seems to have reached the
point when it must make a decision
between one set Of opinions and the
other"
TROUBLE IN EGYPT.
LONDON, Dec. 2S.-Enersetic ac-
tion Is being taken by the British au-
thorities In Egypt to suppress Senus.
81 6ofoer raloS. OlSpdtCncS IToUH Sou
today said the Arab bands are being
dispersed az rapidly as they are on
countered by British forces and driv-
en- westward toward the frontier OF
TripoIi.
Tho Italian military officials, II was
announced, will cooperate with the
British In ending the border attacks
on Isolated Egyptian posts.
'sWest OF Mount Medwa, New zea-
Iandcrs and Sikhs drove the enemy
forces west Of Wadi Maid In run
nina fight Christmas day." said an o.
fetal dispatch from Cairo today. "In
the siwah district (southwest Of Alex.
andria) we have been unable to dis
cover enemy forces dispersed on
Christmas day"
The Arabs are poorly equipped, ae'
cordinq to Cairo reports and flee
when machine guns and field pieces
are turned loose on them. BY surprise
NIGHT attacks they have attempted TO
overwhelm small British garrieons
and obtain sufficient ammunition to
continue their raids. The s.Iuation Is
being watched closely, Cairo re-
ported today, but there are no indica-
tions Of a general uprising.