The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1916-01-06
CONSUMPTION
FOR ENGLAND
COMPULSORY MILITARY SERVICE
PROVIDED IN BILL IN.
PRODUCED.
BY Premier Asquith In House Of Com.
mons Yesterday-Wm BE
Opposed.

-
LONDON. Jan. g., 1920 .. m.-The
BRUSH government today definitely
embarked upon a policy of compulsory
military service when Premier Asquith
submitted TO the house Of commons a
oli drafting eligible unmarried men to
military duty. and champoined the
measure In a stirring speech on the
necessity OF this step to meet the grow
ing exigencies of the war.
The scene within the house OF COM
non was n OF the most notable in
the history OF that body. with benches
packed with members. all the minis
terial seats occupied n the galleries
overlooking.
outside the parliament building
great crowds gathered. reflectinr the
deep popular interest.
MI. Asquith began Immediately aft.
or the House was convened and spoke
continuously for an hour.
IL was not a speech marked for its
impassioned oratory but rather for its
almness and the analysis whereby the
PREMIER assembled reasons showing
the compelling necessity for resort TO
this step.
n applause vas frequent while
the opposition at times expressed
noisy disapproval. Most of the speech
was devoted TO a clear expression of
me details OF the measure which the
PREMIER declared was no abandonment
OF the principle OF voluntary service
IN which he firmly believed, but mere.
y a temporary measure limited to the
duration OF the war and confined 10 a
comparatively small class OF unmar.
RED men who had not responded yoIun.
'arlly TO the country's needs.
would have been glad To do
without this BILL" said the premier.
My confident expectation had been
mat no such measure would be neces-
sary. bu that hope has been disap-
pointed and now | consider this bin
a necessity"
Inc premier particularly empha-
sized the pledge he had given OF re-
sort 10 CONSUMPTION IL voluntary en-
Isthents under the Derby plan did
not give adequate results. As a mat
Ter or national interest as we'll as ex-
peolency. he regarded the time as hay.
ing arrived for keeping that pledge.
l mean to keep my promise" be
concluded, and let it not be said that
we CALLED or delayed in carrying out
an houoTtDle ODlRattOn.'
Sir John Simon who resigned.from
me cabinet recently was greeted
heartily as he rose to combat the pre.
mlers contentious. He expressed re.
gret al leaving the cabinet and paid a
trloute TO Mr.. Asquith. to whom he
owned such success as he had achiev.
ed, out, he said, no personal consider.
atlons could deter him from opposing
this measure which presented the su.
pIeme question OF abandoning the peo.
pie or voluntary service, one OF the
traditions OF Britain's freedom and
substituting the Prussian system OF
m~ilitarism.
This bill should be resisted" he
exclaimed. while a wave of cbeers
greeted his statement. He maintained
mat Premier Asquith had been chief.
ly moved in his desire to keen a
pledge, whereas this was a proposition
involving a reversal of the entire
poncy OF the government and those
chletly DESTROYS OF having the pledge
kept We're men who had for wears
taunted the premier with the lack OF
good faith.
a chorus Of boots greeted ,bs
speakers sarcastic reference TO pres.
sure eIerted by the Harmsworth
press"
He maintained that the results n,
me bill II enacted would be a neeIf
glole addition to the fighting force
The real danger OF the measure. he
asserted. was that II committed tbe
prime minister e the principle q,
compulsory service. and once this vas
conceded no one could tell where the
new policy would end.
Andrew Bonar Law. secretary 70,
the colonies. was received with
cheers as he declared the bin was alb
solutely necessary n the war was tc
be won.
The house Of lords was the scene
Iof another debate on conscriptior
hardly less animated than that in the
house Of commons as Earl Kitchener.
secretary for war. urged the impera
tive necessity Of strengthening the
army by the means now pos
Lord Kitchener declared himself
a firm supporter Of the voluntary svs
TEN and regarded the present meas
ure as only a temporary deviation
from the established policy