The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1917-04-24
BRITISH GENERAL
ON CONSCR|PTI
TELLS ADVANTAGES OF SYSTEM
NOW IMMENSELY POPULAR IN.
ENGLAND AFTER TRIAL.
NEW METHODS IN WAR.
No Longer Matter Of Expeditions But
Struggle Of Nation Against Nation
in Which All People Are Involved.
Entente Success Question Of Time.

Washington. April "a Lieutenant
General Bridges, member Of the Brit
ish commission. declared here today
in a talk with newspaper correspond
ents that the British democracy had
become almost fanatical" over uni
ycrsal military service The volunteer
system under which the empire had
entered the war General Bridges said
has cost the lives Of the most valua.
BILE citizens, crippled industrial mo-
bilization and immeasureably set back
, llnglands efforts in the war.
New Methods
War" said Gcnral Bridges, "is no
| longer a war of expeditions but Is a
/ case of nation against nation Men.
women and children are equally
| drawn into the vortex, the women
and children being forced into indus.
| try and fed on half rations in order to
supply the men at the front War has
| become an immensely democratic
/ business and needs the full effort Of
every member of the community di.
rected along the lines most necessa.
/ ~ To be served"
General Bridges while unwilling to
be drawn into a discussion of specific
American questions, talked most free.
| ly Of the difficulties which had beset
England when. at the beginning Of the
war, she converted herself from "A
peace to a war basis and began the
immense increase of her army from a
small force to one Of the largest In
Europe
THE source Of our greatest diff
! Guilty" said General Bridges. was
the sending to the continent Of Europe
practically all Of our whole trained
army as an expditonary force. Thi.
robbed us Of all training officers fol
our new armies and It was only
through recently returned wounded
officers and the withdrawal OF other,
that we were able to build the skele
ton for our new forces At the same
time we allowed most of our better
class youths. university men I'm many
cases, to enter the ranks which with
drew them from the officers class anr
placed that responsibility on far les,
woll equipped persons The wasteag,
, Of the best blood Of the nation wai
} enormous
Time Needed
General Bridges estimated eigh
4 months as the necessary time 10 trail
. a division, individual recruits. howey
, er may be made III to 20 to the from
n In the short space OF eleven weeks
20 provided they are distributed In pro
portions OF fifty amongst two hundre,
q trained men War service is al leas
five times as valuable training a
; peace service II Is estimated
l.. Artillery must be In great prepor
= derance." General Bridges said. "b,
! fore an attack can be- Initiated Tn
, bayOnet however, is still essential 4
a., finally rOut the enemy from hi
: trenches. I should estimate that IN
y present successes on the western iron
are due TO British preparedness owe
the German artillery OF at least thre
or four to one. There Is absolutel
no doubt as TO the outcome of thi
/, war; the only question is as to It
i length"
General Bridges commented briefl
on the difficulties OF making goo
fighters In democratic nation full {
personal freedom and lacking militar
, experience The French bourgers.
l. the generals opinion, makes the idej
soldier because war has been almos
e instinct In his blood since the day
| OF Napoleon General Bridges praise
ID the French army in the highes
Is terms.
% General Bridges will consult wit
IL all American army officers and has
m mass Of detailed information TO plaC
% at their disposal. II is possible b
q. may also meet the military commi
p toes OF congress