Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-01-06
Affects Bachelors or Wild
overs Without Children
Dependent on Them.
DIRECTED AT MEN BETWEEN
AGES OF 18 AND al
Ireland Excluded From Terms
of Bill Compelling Mill
tary Service
SPECTACULAR SCENE Is HOUSE
Great Crowds Gather Outside, Re-
ilcct;ng Deep Popular
Interest.

LONDON. January 5--under the
terms Of the compulsory military SER
vice bin. introduced III tho House of
Commons to-day. all males between tho
ages OF ciShteeli and forty-one who
arc bachelors or widowcrs without
children dependent upon them arc
liable for military service.
ireland is excluded from tho terms
Of the measure
MIR. .\suuith said no case had been
made out for general compulsion, and
that tho Hill he was Introducing could
10 supported by those opposed to con-
Scription
Th" scene within tho House OF Com
mons was ono OF tho most notable in
benches packed with mcmbcrs, all the
ministerial seats occupied and the gal
lcrics ovcrAowiuS
With tho prospect "f keen duel be-
tween TIC rrimc Minister and his
former colleague. Sir john \. Simon.
over the Eiomcntous issue which
caused the lntc Home Sccretary's
resignation, the biggest asscmhlage OF
ccmmoncrS since tho outbreak OF the
war faced Mr. hSunth when he intro
duccd his military service BILL Nir-
tuallI tho only ahs"ut"cs were those
viii" were dcharrcd from attending by
tho military necessities These 10 a
man favor compulsion.
GREAT CROWDS t>vIiEit
OurSIDI. OF BUILDING
Outside tho Parliament building
great crowds gathered. rejecting the
dccp popular interest. and shouts of
welcome greeted tho Premier as he
drove up with his wife and daughters. :
Just back OF Nr. Asquith sat Sir
John Simon, the only member OF the
cabinet who's. resignation has been
prrcipitatcd by tho compulsion bill,
while in tho gallery Immediately fac
inc The T., .nicr was tho genial. earnest
face Of tho Earl "f Derby. who has
bcrn tho contra, nGu-c leading up TO
days climax.
Mir Asuuiih began immediately tho
House WAS convened. ami spoke con-
tiuuousiy for an hour. 1t was not a
spccc', marked for its impaSsioncd
oratorN. hu; rather for its calni css and
the analysis whereby the Premier re-
assembled reasons showing the com
pciliuc necessity for resort 10 this step.
The applause was frequent. Most of
thc speech was devoted to a clear eX-
preston Of tho details OF tho measure,
which the Premier declared was no
abandonment, OF thc priu,plc OF volun-
tarH service. in which IL firmly be-
licNei. hut merely Il temporary meas
urc. hut limited 10 Tho duration of
the war and confined 10 4 comparative-
l. small class of unmarried men who
had not responded voluntarily to the
coUn,ry's needs
u would have hccn glad 10 do with
out this bill" said the Premier. "aly
confident expectation had been that no
such measure would nc necessary. but
that hope has hccn disappointed. and l
now consider this bill a necessity"
HotSE on LORDS SCENE
nIr tONsCWiPriON DEBATE
The House OF Lords was The scene OF
another debate on CONSUMPTION hardly
less animated than IN the House OF
Commons. as Earl Kitchener, Score
iarN Tor War, urged the imperial neces-
a'ty for strengthening he army by
the means no" proposed
Lord Kitchener declared himself
hrm supporter of tho voluntary sys-
tenn aud regarded the present meas
ur" a. only = temporary deviation from
The established policy
Il do not consider tho change pro-
poscd should hc regarded in the light
OF any dcroGation Of the principle o.
voluntary service IN this country" de-
oiared tho Secretary FOR War. speak
ing. he said 'onl. as a soldier with a
single cye 10 tho successful conduct
of the war"
compulsion nc added affects. during
nc period Of the war. only one class
OF men-thosc who have had but =
idea i ,,iItZrpChi,