New Britain herald., 1916-04-26
AsQUlTII FORECASTS
 A CONSCR|PT ARMY
Outlines Plan for Compulsory Ser
 vice in England

London, April 26.-Premier Asquith at the secret session of parliament yesterday presented on behalf of the government proposals foreshadowing general military compulsion unless success attended "immediate efforts to obtain men required by voluntary enlistment from amongst unattested married men,"
 The governments proposals were publicly announced today in a long statement to the press.
 The government, MT. Asquith said, will forthwith ask parliament for compulsory power" unless at the end of four weeks ending May 27, fifty thousand men have been secured by voluntary enlistment. The same course is proposed if in any one week after May 27, fifteen thousand men have not been secured by direct en- listment These arrangements are to hold good until 100000 unattested men have been obtained.
 Owing to the length of time re- quired to sift individual cases under the present system, the press state ment said, recruiting to date has fallen short of requirements which were necessary to fulfill our proper military effort"
 The statement says:
 '"The premier in moving the od- journment of the house gave the par tlculars of the expansion of the army from the first days of the war up to the present time and of the total mil itary effort of the empire, including contributions from the self-governing dominions and India
 'The bearing of finance on the ques- ton of recruiting and in particular of financial assistance rendered to the Allies, was then explained
 Recruiting Results Disappoint.
 Results of recruiting, more par ticularly since August last, when reg istration was carried out, were re- viewed. It was shown that the re- suits obtained tu date had fallen short of requirements which were necessary to fulfill our proper military effort. This was due not to an over-e estimate of the number of available but to the length of time which must be occu- pied in sitting individual cases.
 ITO meet the situation the govern ment determined upon three relatively minor proposals.
 First prolongation until the end of the war of the service of tirna ex- pired men whose period of service un- der the present law can be extended for one year only.
 Second, to empower the military authorities to transfer men enlisted for territorial battalions to any unit where they are needed.
 Third" to render the exempted man liable to military service imme- diately on the expiration of his cer- tificate of exemption.
 With a view to ultimate addition to forces available they will further propose to bring under the terms of the military service act all youths reach that age.
 To Take Unattested Bachelors.
 Further, the prime minister stated:
 First, that the government. recog- nizing that the necessary numbers re- quired for the discharge of our mili- tary obligations will not be available for service at the time required under present arrangements, agrees that immediate effort shall be made to obtain men required by voluntary enlistment from amongst unattested married men.
 Second, that if at the end of the four weeks ending May 27, 5o,OoO l of these men have not been secured l by direct enlistment, the govern | ment will forthwith ask parliament for compulsory power. l Third, that if in any week after l May 27, 15,00O men have not been l secured by direct enlistment the same 1 course will be taken, any surplus over
 15,00O in one week being carried over l to the next.
 l Fourth, that arrangements in ] paragraphs 2 and are to hold good
 until 100000 unattested men have l been obtained. In the meantime the 1 position will be under constant re- l view by the government.
 'It was pointed out that as under 1 this scheme all available unattested | married men would be enlisted either ] voluntarily or by colnpulsion, the
 main ground alleged for the release 1 of attested married men would dis ! appear
 The premier, the statement says, 1 also said that the question. of assist 1 snce to be given ito enable men in 1 Tis Majesty's forces to meet their l civil liabilities" had been placed in l the hands of a special committee. 1 The committee had made consider ] able progress, and had obtained the ] concurrence of the treasury to the i following general principles:
 First, the scheme of assistance