Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-11-03
PREMIER AsQUITH
Continued from Page One)

penitent in a,white sheet. However, he
did not propose to adopt either attl-
tude. He intended to describe as far
as possible the actual prospective posi-
ton to the nation. which lis as deter
mined today as it has ever been TO
prosecute the war to a successful con-
ment, by whomsoever controlled, to
use every means in the attainment Of
that purpose" He continued: ut is
true today that some parts Of the hor-
icon are overcast. 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 reservoir of courage,
both active and passive"
Mr.. Asquith referred to the small
coterie of professional whimperers
which kept our enemies supplied daily
with q diet of falsehoods.' The govern
ment, he said, had no interest in con-
cealing anything. subject to the one
overriding consideration that it's dis
closures 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 in
fantry 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
million men. To these must be added
the troops at the Dardanelles. in Egypt
and in other theaters of war, as we'll
as our garrisons and troops in reserve.
How has this gigantic force been
got together, by power which has
never aspired to be a military power?
First. by the manhood of the United
Kingdom. In the last Is months we
have recruited" Mr. Asquith hes
itated: then remarked, Il do not like
to give the exact fgures-of men.
THE contribution of India was
splendid" he continued. Canada con-
tributed $4,000 officers and men; Aus
tralia $4,000, New Zealand. $4,000; South
Africa, after brilliant campaign sub
DUNG the Germans, sent $500, and
Newfoundland 1900. Ceylon, Fiji and
other parts of the empire all sent con-
tirgents.
mo account is taken in these figures
Of preparation for maintenance of these
units in the field
Turning to the work Of the navy in
transporting troops. the premier said
two and one-half millions of officers and
mem had been carried in addition to
$4,000 sick and wounded, two an one
half millions OF tons of supplies and
100000 horses and mules.
up to the present. he added. ''the
loss Of life in the whole of these gil
gantic overseas operations had been
considerably less than one-tenth of one
per cent. There never has been any
thing comparable in history TO the ser
vice of the navy. There they are-the
men of the grand fleet. living unnoticed,
unadyertised; performing with efficiency
and vigilance which cannot he described,
but which has cleared the whole high
seas from one end to the other of Ger
man warships and mercantile marine.
Where is the great German warships
and mercantile marine Where is the
great German fleet, upon which so much
money has been spent? Locked up in
the Baltic. 1t dare not show it's face
in waters where it can be attacked.
The whole marine resources of Germany
have been reduced to sporadic and con-
stantiy diminishing efforts of subma-
rines"
The announcement was made by Pre-
mier Asquith that former Premier Ven-
izelos Of Greece. whose advocacy Of in
PREVENTION III the war on the side of
the Entente allies led to his resigna-
ton. asked France and Great Britain
on Sept. 81 for 10000 men with the
express understanding that Greece
would mobilize. MIR. Asauith said:
From the moment Turkey declared
war it was impossible to concentrate
attention solely on the western front.
The Turks threatened our Russian al
lies and Egypt. The advent of Turkey
produced a great effect on the Balkan