New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-05-24
81, 500,000,000 Voted IMAM
imously-Asquith Makes
Explanation.
WINSTON CHURCHILL
VOICES CRITICISM
Thinks Army of 100000 Could
BE Organized Out Of Ser
wants of Officers.

London, May 23.--In moving a vote
Of credit for 1900, 100000 In the House
Of Commons to-day Premier Asquith
commented that this was the eleventh
vote since the beginning Of the war and
the second for the current financial
year. The total granted this year, he
remarked. was S3,OOO,oOO,o 900, making a
grand total Of S11,91O,0OO,O 900.
The Premier gave an account Of the
governments recent financial opera
tions. In the ffty-day period between
April ! and May 20 the actual outlay,
he stated, was S1,1O5,0Oo,OOO. Expend-
lures for the army, navy and for mu-
nitions in that time accounted for
S7450OO,OOO loans to allies and do
minions for 1872 100000 and outlay for
food supplies, railways and miscellan-
eous items ss7,5OO,OOO The daily aver
age expenditure had been reduced 70
500, 100000.
The average expenditure for the
army, the navy and for munitions, Dir.
AsQuith continued, was just under 3d.
100000 daily Speaking Of loans q
allies, Mr.. Asquith said:
Without that financial assistance "
is literally true that the combined
operations Of the Allies could not be
prosecuted with success and efficiency.
adding, however. that he could hold
out no hope of any appreciate reduc
tion in expenditures. Estimating that
the 81 500. 100000 asked would last IN
I'll the middle Of the first week Of Au
gust, the Premier said he moved this
vote with the same confidence as he
felt in moving the first vote.
The Premier remarked that the eX-
penditure Of 81 200, 100000 between April
J and May 90 daily average OF SEA-
200,000-was the highest rate reached
By Great Britain in any such period
during the war. The balance still held
by the Treasury, he stated, would keep
the government in funds until June 2.
Foes Evenly Matched.
After a debate, IN which Winston
Churchill took exception TO some OF
Premier Asquith's statements, the
House unanimously agreed 10 vote the
credit.
Mr.. Churchill said e was unresson-
sble for people TO expect the war 70
turn suddenly and decisjvely IN favor
Of the Allies. The contending armies
were far too EVENLY matched st the
present time TO permit Of such
change. The Allies had larger reserves,
actual and potential, than their enc
mies. and IL was IN the use which was
made OF them that the hope Of final
victory lay.
Colonel Churchill calculated that the
British were holding, on all fronts,
forty-fvs German and Turkish d.
visions
THAT does not correspond with the
Premier's description Of our military
efforts" he continued THE Prime
Minister said that the total military ef
fort Of the empire was FIVE million men.
Where are they7 Certainly they have
not been IN contact with the enemy,
Our military efforts should be meas
ured by the number Of enemy forces
we are holding on our respective
fronts. The forty-fve German and
Turkish divisions which we face would
total nine hundred thousand men all
told ard therefore the actual fighting
force with which we are in contact ~
probably, in effective rife and artillery
strength. half million men"
Colonel Churchill suggested that bat
+alions be increased 10 twelve hundred
men. in order TO reduce the proportion
OF men who in all battalions could not
be classed in rife strength.
New Army Available.
Another suggestion made by the colo
rel was abolition Of officers servants
md grooms He pointed out that there
were two hundred thousand officers IN
the army, with an equal number Of
servants, and sixty thousand grooms, an
army in itself In addition, there were
great unused masses OF cavalry.
Speaking in the light Of his expert
noes Al the front, he referred to the
position of .he British In France. He
mentioned The sslients which the Brit
ish troops mold. and added:
1--WE should not continue 70 hold
places Of no vital Importance IN the
line. where our men are at disad-
vantage and suffer undue losses. There
Ire three or four such places. and il
IS said the Germans have orders not TO
push US out, in order that they may
continue to reap the benefits Of our &C
cupation Of them. No reproach VIII be
made against the government II the line
is readjusted."