The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1915-12-22
Strength of the British Army is
to Be Brought Up to -Four
Million Men.
AN ALL NIGHT DEBATE
Teutonic Powers Again Trying
to Swing Greece and Rou-
mania into Line.

LONDON, Dec. 22.-After an all
night debate the House Of Commons
early today granted an increase of one
million men in the British army, bring
ing up its strength on paper to four
million. With the increase come
changes in higher commands, Lieu
tenant General Roberton, chief of the
general stan, having been recalled
from France to become chief of the
imperial STAFF in London in place OF
Lieutenant General Murray, who is
about to receive an important COM
mand. These changes are accepted
here as indicating closer cooperation
among the Allies in the conduct OF
military operations on the western
front.
The Teutonic powers are represent
ed as taking full advantage OF the
moral effect produced by the with
drawal OF British forces from Gallipoli
peninsula, and to be attempting once
more to swing Greece and Roumania
tc their side in the Balkan operations.
If the news Of the bombardment of
Varna is correct Russia is losing no
time in an attempt to forestall these
efforts. From several sources, all I'M
official, London has heard OF the bonn
bardment Of the Bulgarian port.
Various dispatches state that the
Russian warships are accompanied
by a feet OF transports which, accord
ing to the morning newspapers. al
ready has landed a sufficient. force
to hold the town.
While the Greek elections have CIV
en- large majority to former Pre-
mier Gounaris, a powerful member
of the present cabinet, who is not
overfriendly to the Entente powers,
1t, Is not believed here the change
will have much of an effect on the
attitude of Greece. which is. now
much more agitated by the possibility
that Bulgariars will cross the from
tier. than by the formation OF a new
government.
Along the western line, according
to British official reports, the Ger
mans suffered heavy losses, while ex-
posing their forces in an attempt to
occupy craters which their mines had
opened along the front near Armen-
there's. French operations at most
places are hampered greatly by bad
weather. but considerable portion
of the German works on Hartmanns-
weilerkopf has been carried.
The Russians are reported to have
occupied Kun, which indicates they
are making an important advance
into the interior of Persia.
Although the question of conscIip-
tion figured largely in the army de-
bate last night in the House of Com
mons, 1t was only an incidental
part of the discussion. The coun-
try awaits with keen interest the de-
bate which is certain 10 follow pre-
sentation to the House of the Earl Of
Derhy's figures on the attestation
plan.
Lieutenant General Sir Archibald
Murray has been appointed to sue
coed Sir Charles Monro as British
commander at the Dardanelles. says
an official statement issued Wednes-
day afternoon.
Sir Charles Monro has been ap-
pointed In command of the first Brit
ish army in France; in succession to
Sir Douglas Haig.
General Murray was chief Of the
imperial staff at London until few
days ago. Premier Asquith announced
yesterday that he had been succeeded
by Lieutenant General Robertson,
chief of the general staff In the field.
and that he was to receive an i'm
portant command.
The commandership of the first
British army was made vacant by
the promotion of General Haig to be
British commander-in-chief