New-York tribune., 1916-04-27
Premier Gives Figures of
Requirements for Avoid
ing Draft.
IRELAND EXCEPTED
FROM CALCULATION
All Youths To Be Enlisted for
Military Service on Compile
ton of Eighteenth Year.

London. April 90. The Official report
OF the secret session OF the House OF
Commons to-day shows that Premier
Asquith declared that the extension OF
the military service act would not ap-
ply TO Ireland. An extract from the
official report OF the proceedings fol
lows:
AT the commencement Of the sitting
Sir Edward Carson asked the Prime
Minister whether the published report
of yesterdays sitting could be amended
so as TO make it clear that the Prime
Minister had stated that the govern
mcnt's proposals. as far as they were
concerned with the raising Of fresh re
cruits by the extension Of the military
service act, did not apply 20 ireland.
The Prime Minister agreed that hi,
statement was to be taken in tha'
sense
AZ yesterdays secret session n .
Premier presented on behelt ot the
government proposals roresnadoulng
general military compulsiol unless sue
cess attended immediate efforts 20
obtain men required by voluntary en-
listment from among unattested mar
ricd men" Another 100000 men at
present unattested are required.
The official report on the subject Of
the secret session is in part as follows:
Detailed Fipares Given.
"The Premier gave particulars Of the
expansion OF the army from the frs.
days of the war up to the present time,
and Of the total military effort Of the
empire. including contributions from
the self-governing dominions and India.
Results OF recruiting. II was shown
had fallen short Of requirements neces-
sary 70 fulfil our proper military ef-
fort. To meet the situation the gov
eminent determined upon three rela
lively minor proposals.
First, prolongation until the end o.
the war Of the service Of time-expired
men whose period Of service under the
present law can be extended for one
year only.
Second. TO empower the military au-
thorities TO transfer men enlisted for
territorial battalions to any unit where
they are needed.
Third, TO render the exempted man
liable 10 military service Immediately
on the expiration Of his certificate Of
exemption.
with a view TO ultimate addition TO
forces available they will further pro
pose 70 bring under the terms Of the
military service act all youths under
eighteen on August 10 last, as they
reach that age.
Further. the Prime Minister stated:
First. that the government. recog
nizing that the necessary numbers re-
ouired for the discharge Of our mill
tary obligations will not be available
for service al the time required under
present arrangements. agrees that i'm
mediate effort shall be made 20 obtain
men required by voluntary enlistment
from among unattested married men.
Compulsion in View.
Second. that If al the end o. :he
four weeks ending May q 10000 Of
these men have not been secured by
direct enlistment the government will
forthwith ask Parliament for compul
sorry power.
Third, that II in any week after
May 27 $1,000 men have not been Sc
cured by direct enlistment the same
course will be taken. any surplus over
$4,000 in one week being carried over
70 the next.
Fourth. that these arrangements are
TO hold good until 100000 unattcsted
men have been obtained. In the mean
time the position will be under con
stant review by the government.
at was pointed out that as under
this scheme all available unattested
married men would be enlisted either
voluntarily or by compulsion the main
ground alleged for the release Of at
tested married men would disappear.
To Give Financial Aid.
The remier also referred 10 the
question Of assistance 10 be given men
70 enablp men in his majesty's forces
10 meet their civil liabilities and gave
details of plan by which all men who
have Joined the forces since August =.
1914. or who may join hereafter. in
cluding single as we'll ss married men,
shall be assisted in matters OF rent
Gncluding ground rent and rent OF
business premises. mortgage interest:
pavments Of instalments in virtue OF
contracts such as purchase of prem
ises. business or furniture, taxes, rates.
insurance premiums and schooi fees'
hut relief is not to be given for the
purpose Of enabling any person to dis
charge such liabilities as ordinary
debts 70 tradesmen, or IN amounts ex-
ceeding $500 a year.