Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-11-02
Premier Asquith Reports
Immense Army Now in
Field in Europe.
TOTAL CASUALTIES
REACH $4,000
British Premier Reviews War situ-
alton in Speech in House Of Com
mons - Roumania Believed to Be
Preparing to Enter War on Side Of
Entente Allies - Russian Offensive
Operations Being Extended.

London, Nov. 2.-In his address be-
fore the house of commons today
Premier Asquith stated that Fielt
Marshal Sir John French was now II
command of nearly 100000 men.
Mr.. Asquith said the total casual
| ties in France and Flanders amounted
to $4,000.
i He asserted the Germans had mol
made a net gain Of q foot of grouno
! since April.
| London, Nov. 2.-Public interest Ii
divided today between Premier AS
qpith's speech in the house Of commons
and Roumania's reported intentions tc
/ threw her lot with the entente allies
News coming by way Of Paris lends
support to the growing impression that
| Roumania is preparing to intervene In
! the war.
! BY r,raI decree new classes Of Rou-
/ manian recruits are being mobilized
Vienna reports that grave situation
may arise between Austria and Rou-
! mania in connection with the proposed
use Of the Danube to transport Rus
sion troops to Bulgaria.
Little news comes direct from Buch-
Arrest, as the censorship Is enforced SO
strictly that even ordinary messages
are stopped. but it is known the agita-
ton in favor of war is spreading.
Nish Being Surrounded.
The Austrian, German and Bulgarian
armies are drawing the net more
closely about Nish. The French as
sert they have inflicted serious losses
on the Bulgarians. who have been
thrown back on the right bank OF the
Vardar.
The only political situation Of note n
the Balkans Is the change In the tone
of the ministerial press OF Athens
which is publishing articles in SYM
pathy with the allies.
Russ Offensive Extended.
Along the eastern front there is evi-
dence Of a considerable extension Of
the Russian offensive. This is indicated
I by official reports from both sides.
Definite reports concerning the sue
cess Of the new German attack on
Riga also are lacking.
Russia's active participation in the
Balkans may have begun, inasmuch as
Bucharest reports Russian troops have
been landed at varna. This port is
! said to be defended by Turks COM
manded by German officers.
Asquith Is Confident.
Mr.. Asuuith asserted he was as con-
fident as ever that the allies were 60
ing to carry their righteous cause to
triumphant issues; and he was not go
ing to shift the burden from his shoul-
ders until satisfied he was unable to
bear it. He would not surrender the
task as long as he enjoyed health and
confidence of the king and country.
Reviewing the work of British sub
marines, the premier said that In the
sea Of Marmora they had sunk or
damaged two battleships. five gun
boats, eight transports and 1917 supply
ships.
Mr.. Asquith said there was whole
agreement between Great Britain and
France to maintain the independence
of Serbia. and mot become the prey OF
the sinister and nefarious combination
Of Germany, Austria and Bulgaria"
National Finances Serious.
He asserted the financial situation
of Great Britain was serious and that
the nation must be prepared to make
greater sacrifices than 1t has yet done.
Premier Asquith said he strongly
believed the recruiting plan of the Earl
of Derby would succeed and that COM
pulsion would be unnecessary.
The announcement was Wade by
Premier Asquith that former Premier
venizelos, Of Greece. whose advocacy
Of Intervention in the war on the side
Of the entente allies led to his resig-
nation. asked France and Great Brit
ain on Sept. 21 for 10000 men with
the express understanding that Greece
would mobilize. The premier accepted
his full share for the responsibility for
the first attack on the Dardanelles.
which resulted in failure. He said
this attack was made after full In
vestigation and consultation with
naval experts and that It was sanc-
toned by the government notwiti1-
stand some doubts In the minds Of
some Of the principal naval advisers.
Disappointment For Some.
Premier Asquith prefaced his re-
MARKS concerning the war by saying he
would disappoint many expectations;
not the least expectations of those who
thought he ought to appear as a crim-
inal or penitent in q white sheet. He
intended to describe as far as possible
the actual prospective position to the
nation, which is as determined today
as it has ever been to prosecute the war
to a successful conclusion, and which
trusts the government, by whoSoever
controlled to use every means to the
attainment Of that purpose"
He continued:
sIt is true that today some parts OF
the horizon ara overcast. This. like
other wars, has been fruitful Of sur-
prises and disappointments. The mos
ment calls for three things: A proper
sense Of perspective: q limitless stock
OF patience, and an overnowing reser-
voir Of courage. both active and pas
sivc." !sizz.
Mr. Asquith referred to the Small