Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-02-09
Military Budget Presented to
Parliament Is Greatest Ever
Known in History Of British
Empire,
RECRUITING NOT so
RAPID AS REQUIRED
Secretary to Earl Kitchener
Tells Lawmaking Body That
Struggle Is for Very Exist
ence of Government.

London, Feb. t9.O7 J. :n.)--The
introduction OF the largest military
budget In the history OF Great Britain
shared the stage in the house of COM
mons today with discussion of the
activities of the official press bureau.
The task OF introducing the budget
fell upon the parliamentary secretary
OF the war office, II j. Tenant as
Earl Kitchener, secretary for war; is
a, member of the house of lords
Two more days have been allotted
to the discussion OF these 'army esti-
mates" which are called blank
check budget" because the accounts
OF actual money which Will be ex-
pended under them are represented by
nominal or token figures. Under Sec
retary Tenants speech was a stirring
tribute to the British army and a plea
for more recruits.
1T is true" he said, that recruit
ing thus far has been very satisfac-
tory. but IL varies from week to week,
and possibly at the present moment, u
little more energy put into recruiting
would not be out of place. There Is
no cause for discomfort, but we want
more men. Every man will be needed
in this great life and death struggle.
The variations and yicissitudes of this
war may yet call for even greater sac
rifices from the nation than have yet
| been made"
He appealed to the labor party to
help organize the forces of labor so
| that when a man Joined the colOrs
his place would be adequately sup
piled.
The press bureau discussion was
i brought on by a motion by Joseph
| King. liberal OF North Somerset, that
/ the action of the press bureau In re-
lstricting the freedom of the press
and Withholding information about
the war has been guided by no clear
principles and has been calculated 10
cause suspicion and discomfort
Mr., King urged that the press
bureau issue a daily or a weekly
statement as to the progress ex-
/ periences, success and reverses of
the British troops at the front. He
added:
The press bureau ought to be used
for freer dissemination of authentic
information which would allay
alarming and dangerous rumors."
In reply, Sir Stanley o. Buckmas-
ter director of the press bureau, de-
Tended its work. He declared that he
had never withheld for five minutes
any information that he possessed.
Moreover, he had published instantly
everything that 1t was in his power
TO publish.
II can conceive nothing" he said,
better calculated to give satisfaction
-, to our enemies, who are endeavoring
to discredlt our official news, than
| the announcement it has been sug-
/ gested in the house of commons that
rthe press bureau is the subject Of
suspicion"
! Sir William p. Byles, who second
| ed Mr. Kings motion, asked If any
I disasters had been concealed, as
( there had been endless stories of a
capital ship lost some months ago off
the north coast of Ireland.
The speaker replied that that was
ian admiralty matter, which could not
4 be discussed under the head of army
estimates.
Continuing his discussion of the
press bureau, Mr.. Buckmaster de-
/ clared that the bureau was actuated
solely by the desire to apply fairly
and impartially the rules laid down
for its guidance by the different de-
partments of state
Andrew Bonar Law. leader of the
opposition, declared that those who
supported the motion, desired only to
point out certain things which need
ed altering.
IF Mr.. Buckmaster is not respon-
sible," he said, why is not repre-
sentative of the war office present
to accept responsibility? There is
nothing worse for a country than
leoncealment of disasters until the end
of the war"
Harold Smith, unionst. for War;
rinston, defended the bureau, de-
claring that the final decision as to
what could be published rested with
Earl Kitchener and Winston Spencer
lChurchill, whereupon member in
| quired. HAS, Lord Kitchener or Sir
John French been asked for relaxa-
tion Of the censorship"
TO this, Mr.. Buckmaster replied,
no.
| Mr.. Kings amendment was nega-
tived without division.