The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-08-06
BRITAIN DECIDES
FOR CONSUMPTION
Cabinet, Meeting on Anniver-
sary Of War. Agrees Ii Is
Unavoidable.
BIG OUTCRY EXPECTED
Specio, Cobi. Dsspdfcb 10 Tus SrS.

SpeC1oi tdhfe Dsspdtch 10 " StN'
LONDON. Aug. I delayed In transmits
sion).-It is learned on excellent au-
thority that the Cabinet has decided to
~inaugurate a system Of conscription In
raising additional armies for Great Brit
ain and that the practice in all proba-
bility will be put in force early In the
fall, or as soon after the adjournment
of Parliament as possible.
This information came to the corre-
spondent of THE Sun this afternoon fol-
lowing a Cabinet meeting in Downing
street. held Immediately after the ami
versary services In st. Pauls. Both
Earl Kitchener and Premier Asquith
were present, and although there Is no
official Information in regard to the
subjects discussed 1t is known that the
question of compulsory service was
again thrashed out and this time with
"A result that virtually dispels all doubt
about the Governments intentions.
It is, however. absolutely incorrect. as
asserted by a section Of the press which
advocates conscription, that the volun-
tary system has been a failure. ON the
contrary. hat system has proved most
successful. 1t has produced all that
was ever expected of it, and 1t is even
correct to say that it has come up to
the most sanguine expectations Of the
Ministers.
Ii is true that the voluntary system
has reached the limit of its possibilities
for raising new armies. and that the
t,,l. ~ r.apt,tta AuY hntnu nhfnina1
is barely sufficient to ill the gaps the
war causes in the ranks.
THE UNI correspondent liz Informed
that no fewer than eleven members of
the Cabinet are strongly In favor of an
immediate institution OF cOmpulsoi!
service. The foremost OF these members
are David Lloyd George. Minister of
Munitions Winston Spencer Churchill.
Chancellor FOR the Duchy of Lancaster.
and a majority Of the Unionist members
OF the Government.
1t Is known that Sir Edward Grey,
Secretary for Foreign Affairs, is SYM
pathetic toward a system of ~cUmpulsion.
while Earl Kitchener. who rarely ex-
presses his views even to his closest
official friends. is energetically opposed
to the view that the voluntary system
has proved a failure. lie Ia willing to
admit, however. that new methods are
needed.
The exact basis on which a compul
sorry service bill would be formed is
not yet definitely decided. 1t is prob
able that the first classes OF men TO be
called to serve the colors will be I'M
married men between the ages OF 10
and 30.
The Government is now paying liberal
allowances to the dependents OF mar
RED men who have gone to the front
under the voluntary system, and the
charge upon the E~xchequer Is SO great
that the Government wishes to void
any further additions under this head.
II is exclusively for this reason that
single men will be called first.
The work of classifying information
obtained through the registration bill
will occupy several weeks. perhaps two
months. As soon as 1t is completed the
summoning of men required will pro-
coed at once, The system OF compulsory
military service $50 called because Brit
ishers do not like the word conscrip-
tion) probably will reach a point OF
practical application about the end Of
October or the beginning Of Novem.
Der.