Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1916-05-05
ENGLAND FORCING
MEN|NTOHERA ARMY
EMIT DECIDES THAT
COMPULSORY SERVICE is
THE ONLY REMEDY.
PARLIAMENT VOTED MEASURE
Measure to Be Presented Meets With
General ApprovaI-Asquth Tells of
Prodigious Effort to Recruit
100000 Men.

London, May 3.-Premier Asquith
announces to an expectant parliament
that the government has at last agreed
on the much-disputed recruiting ques-
ton, and has decided to introduce a
bill for immediate general military
compulsion for the duration of the
war
The premier claimed that the con-
dition he hal all along stipulated as
the only justification for such a step,
namely, consent of the nation, now
had been obtained, as proved by the
speeches delivered in the house of
commons last week, when a bill pro-
viding for the extension of military
service was introduced by Walter H.
Long, president of the local govern
ment board, and later was withdrawn.
Men Can Be Spared.
Mr.. Asquith added that the min
listers agreed that the needful men
could not be obtained by the existing
machinery, but that they we're avail
the industries essential for the sue
cessful prosecution of the war. Hay
ing given interesting details of the
nations success in its prodigious eff
fort in raising 100000 men for the
army and navy, the premier expressed
confidence that the bill proposed
would end, once and for all, the pro-
longed controversy, and in a general
statement of the war situation chal-
lenged the house to indicate if the
government had lost the country's
confidence
Gives Results on Recruiting.
The premier reviewed the recent
controversy over the question of re-
cruiting and gave some figures show
ing what the British empire has done
since the outbreak of the war. He
said the army, which at the beginning
of the war consisted of 26 divisions,
now amounted to SO, including the
naval division and the contributions
Of the dominions, but excluding India.
To obtain 100000 men for the army
and navy, which had been done, in
volved a prodigious effort both at
home and throughout the empire. Re
cruiting was still being maintained,
with some occasional lapses.
There were two limiting conditions,
the premier continued, in the matter
Of recruiting which applied to Eng
land, but not to the other belliger-
ents; namely, maintenance of suprem-
acy on the seas both by means of the
navy and of the mercantile marine
and financing of the nations allies.
Must Keep Ranks Filled.
In coming to it's conclusions that the
existing machinery would not provide
the men required in the necessary
time, Mr.. Asquith said the cabinet de-
cided that the provisions for men in
cluded in the bill brought in last
week, which was withdrawn, and the
additional 100000 manifested married
men, were essential to maintenance of
the armies in the field.
Bill Likely to Pass.
The debate which followed the pre-
mier's speech showed that the bill is
likely to have a speedy passage, as it
met with general approval. A num-
Der of liberal and labor members, how
ever, said in effect that the bill was
not justified. They contended that the
government had been gradually driven
from point to point by the conscrip-
zionist press, and that military neces-
stiles had nothing whatever to do with
the governments giving way.