Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-01-06

London, Jan. 6--rnc British govern
policy Of compulsory military service
when Premier Asqli;n submitted TO tine
House or Commons nil drafting
eligible unmarried men to military duty.
and championcd tho measure IN stiri ng
speech on the necessity Of this step ;u
meet .he growing eXigeucies OF the
var.
The scene within the House us Com
mons was one of the most notable in the
history Of that body. with the benches
packed with 'nembers. all the ministerial
seats occupied tud tho galleries over
flowing
With the rroapect Of Keen duet ne
tween the prime minister aud his former
colleague, Sir John \. simon. over tho
momentous issued which caused the Ia q
home Secrctary's resignation. the biggest
| assemhlagc of commoners since Tho out
break of the war faced MIR AsQuith wheu
he introduced his military service bin
Virtually the only nbsentees were those
who We're dcbarred from atteudins by tho
militar" necessities. These TO man
| favor compuslon.
There was a feeling Of intense interest
and anxiety over the elimination of the
controversy which has shaken the country
as NO other event since the war began.
/ outside the Parliament building, great
7 crowds gathered. rcflecting the deep pop
ular interest and shouts of welcome greet
ed tho premier as he drove up.
Mr.. NsQuith hogan immcdiatclv the
| House was convened and smoke con
| tnuouslY for an hour, assembling rca
sons showing the compelling necessity
| for resort to this step The applause
was frequent, while the opposition al
times expressed noisy disapproval
PREMIER STATES HIS CASE.
Most of the speech was devoted to
Il clear exposition Of tho details Of the
| measure, which the premier declared
was no abandonment of the principle
! of voluntary service, in which ne firm
! ~ believed. but merely temporary
measure limited to the duration nf
lively small class Of unmarried mer
! vino had not responded voluntarily "a
| the country's needs.
I Il would have been glad to Dc
without this bill" said the premier
!
that no such measure would he ncces-
sary. but that hope has been disap-
pointed. and now consider this bin a
! ncccssity"
The premier particularly emphasized th'
pledge he had given Of resort to con
srription ir the voluntary culistmenu
under tn" Derby plan did not Civ
| adequate results As matter Of ma
tonal interest. as we'll as cxpcdicrcy, II,
regarded tho time az having arrived fo
kecning thai pledge.
"I mean to keep my promise" ho con
Guided, and let it not be said that w'
dailiod or delayed IN carrying out ~
honorable obligaton."
SIR JOHN SIMON OPPOSED
Sir john simon was greeted hearth,
as he rose TO combat Tho premicr's con
tcntionS tic expressed regret at leavin,
the cabinet ana paid tribute to Nj
Asquirh. to whom he owed such success
as he had a 'novod. ont. me sn!d, no per
soma considerations could deter him from
opposin2 this moas,rc. winch prcaentc
the suprcmc question Of abandoning tn
principle Of voluntary scrvice, one of Ia
traditions of Eritain's freedom and s,,h
sttuting the PIussian svstem Of mill
| tariSm.
"rhis hl! should be rcsis-cd' ne cy
elaine" while wave Of cheers greet"
his statement II" maintained thd
T Premier As1uith mad been moved cuioH
IN his desire to keep pledge, whercs
' This WAS = proposition Involving = rcvc,
sal of the entire policy of the royerr
mcnt sud those chierny dcslrous Of hal
; ing the pledge kept were the mon Nh