Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-06-01
HALF OF BRITISH
STRENGTH AT HOME
Winston Churchill Again Criti-
cizes Army Administration in
House of Commons.
100000 UNACCoUNTED FOR
Tenant, McKenna and Asquith
Defend Conduct of War in
Answering Complaints.

LONDON, May 3I.--The vote for The
salary OF Earl Kitchener as Secretary
for Wa9 in the House OF Commons to-
day led TO n discussion of the general
vote. Harold ]. Tennant. parliamentary
Under Secretary FOR War. replied TO the
speech made last wcci. by Winston
Spencer Churchill in which he said the
points was disadvantaEeous and that
there were large numbers of men on
duty as Erooms and officers servants
who might he used 70 augment the
fighting forces.
Mr. Tenant pointed out that large
number Of men were required behind
the lines to move up necessary sup
plies. The War Office he said already
had adopted the plan Of replacing
younger soldiers with older ones.
although this could not I've done in
every case.
AS 20 Colonel Churchill's coinpla int
in regard 20 the large number Of
officers servants. Mr.. Tcnnant said
these men. like all others, had to take
regard to "a criticism respecting the
great force OF men kept at home, lie
explained. they were being trained with
a view to being sent abroad.
Mr. Tennant then referred to Colo
nel Churchilrs recommendation that
large bodies of troops be drawn from
Asia and Africa, saving 1t was an illus
ion 10 think such Il thing possible. In
the first place. there was not large
number OF men in those regions suitable
for service as soldiers in the European
war, and even IL there were. it would
be impossible to procure officers who
know the languages and were able TO
command them. Moreover. the value
OF black troops was very uncertain
quantity. and II Colonel Churchill
would look at the German papers. he
would sec how pleased the Germans
were at the idea of seeing these troops
employed by The allies.
OFFICERS COULD LEARN
LANGUAGES BV THAT TIME
In reply. Colonel Churchill said that
when he made his speech he had con-
templated having these armies ready
by September of 1917. He believed
officers could learn the languages by
that time.
Colonel Churchill referred to the
statement in King Georges message
TO the nation, issued on signing the
military service bill last week, that no
less than 5.04l. 900 men had been raised
voluntarily. After careful examina ton.
Colonel Churchill said, he had come to
the conclusion that there were 100000
of these men unaccounted for He
desires to know what had become OF
them, and suggested a committee be
appointed to look into this matter.
Colonel Churchill criticized the army
administration in several respects, but
defended Earl Kitchener warmly. Hc
complained that the supply Of rifles
was inadequate, With the result that the
British were holding and lighting 4
smaller number OF opposing troops than
the resources Of this nation would
Justify
Broadly speaking. he asserted, half
the total strength OF the British army
was at home and for every six men
taken for war service only one effective
infantry rife was placed over tho
parapet at the front.
Colonel Churchill further complained
that while the lighting men We're COM
parativcly small in ,nunaAcr. and sol
diers worn with scrNce were h"avilY
| burdencd and severclX tried by being
! sent back to the froht month Rftcr
month. multitudes OF fresh men were
kept at home and prevented either by
bad management or defective orrani
zation, from being usefully employed
either In industry or In the field. AS
an instance, he said. his own battalion
had received a draft Of thirty-nvc men
out Of whom twcnty-siX had been pre-
viously wounded and this at II time
! when they could see that there prob
ably were more than 100000 men at
home and elsewhere who had not heard
| the whistle OF n bullet.
NUMBER Of MEN At HOME
ONLY IMPORTANT POINT
Reginald Nick Chancellor of the
! EXchequer. in a general reply TO Col
| oncl Churchilrs criticisms, said that
| the only important point raised was re-
| gardine the number Of men kept for
home defense. He had consulted tho
! Adjutant General on the subject. he
added. and believed he was right In
saying that II was the same number
as WAS agreed upon between the ad-
miraity and the War Office. when Mr.
| Churchill himself was at the head OF
! the admiralty.
! Premier Asquith i'm replying 10 Colo
mel Churchill's criticisms argued that
| the possibility OF an invasion must be
taken into consideration. though per-
sonally he thought an invasion unlike
| ly. Mr. Asquith said: I'll is II risk
which cannot he left out OF account,
and we must always effectively pro
| vide for it and must hr guided BY the
+. opinion Of those who can decide what
number OF men are absolutely neces-
Continued on Second Pago.]