The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1915-11-04
OUTLINES new
BRITISH POLICY
Premier Asquith Addresses the
House Of Commons.
CHANGE IN HANDLING WAR

Cabinet Committee of From Three to
Five Members Will Assume Active
Charge and Confer With the Other
Ministers on Questions of the Most
Serious Nature.
London, Nov. 3.-The prime minis.
ter, Mr.. Asquith, in the house of COM
mons delivered before the largest as
sembly of the year his widely herald
ed statement on the progress of the
war.
The premiers speech was charac-
teristic. His most important declara-
ton was that the war will be conduct
ed by a cabinet committee of from
three to five members which will con-
suit with the full cabinet on ques-
tons of the most serious nature.
1t is taken for granted that Premier
Asquith, Lord Kitchener, secretary of
war, and A. J. Balfour, first lord of
the admiralty, will be members of
this council. The plan was expected
and seems in the nature of cOmprO-
mise to meet the criticism that
cabinet of twenty-five members is un.
Wieldy
Sir Edward Carson, the former at.
torney general, was listened to with
almost as great attention as was Mr..
Asquith. He declared the cabinets
slowness in deciding upon policy of
aiding Serbia was the main reason
for his resignation. He asserted the
country is anxious to know whether
it's resources of men and materials
are being used to the best advantage.
He described the cabinet as a machine
incapable of carrying on war.
Sir Edward questioned whether the
government was justified in embark
ing upon the Dardanelles expedition
and spoke Of the failure at Sulva bay
as the most disastrous of the war.
War Fruitful of Surprises.
1T is true that today some parts of
the horizon are overcast" Premier
Asquith said. "This, like other wars,
has been fruitful of surprises and dis.
appointments. The moment calls for
three things: A proper sense of per
spective; a limitless stock of patience
and overlooking reservoirs of courage,
both active and passive.'
Mr.. Asquith referred to the small
coterie of professional whimperers,
(which kept our enemies supplied
daily with a diet of falsehoods." The
government, he said, had no interest
in concealing anything, subject to the
one overriding consideration that it's
disclosure would not assist Great Brit
aims enemies.
"How do we stand today?" asked
the premier I'm August of last year
we were prepared to send abroad six
infantry and two cavalry divisions. In
the operations described by Field Mar
shall French in his last dispatch he
had under his command not far short
OF a million men. TIC these must be
added the troops at the Dardanalles.
in Egypt and in other theaters of war,
as we'll as our garrisons and troops in
reserve'
Turning to the work of the navy in
transporting troops the premier said
100000 Of officers and men had been
carried, in addition to 100000 sick
and wounded, 100000 tons of sup
plies and 100000 horses and mules
Valuable Naval Service.
up to the present. he added, the
loss of life in the whole of these
gigantic overseas operations has been
considerably less than one-tenth of /
per cent. There never has been any
thing comparable in the history to
the service Of the navy"
Where is the great German fleet
upon which so much money was
spent? Locked up in the Baltic 1t
dare not show it's face in waters
where it can be attacked. The whole
maritime resources of Germany have
been reduced to sporadic and con-
stantly diminishing efforts of subma-
rines."
Detailing the objects of the attack
on the Dardanelles the premier re-
marked:
''The view was that it would in
fiuence the Balkan situation; would
open the way for supplies for the Rus
slams and strike blow at the heart
of the Turkish empire
"The results of the August at
tempt continued the premier, were
disappointing, but it must be consider
ed what would have happened if it
had not been taken. The Russians
might have had a serious Turkish at.
tack in the Caucasus and we might
have had to face attacks in Egypt
and Mesopotamia.
1.-THE general staffs of France and
Great Britain have been in the closest
consultation, which eliminated in the
welcome visit of the illustrious com.
mander-in-chief. The result, I am
glad to say, is complete agreement
between us as to the end and means
but can disclose nothing more. Ser