South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-01-15
BRITAIN To RAISE
A HALF MILLION
MORE FIGHTERS
Sir Auckland GeddeS Declares
Upon England Rests Bur-
den Until American
Force is Ready.

D
/ British army at the earliest date
/ possible and it is probable that
many more will be added 10 that
| These will comprise the younger
men exempt because of their en-
/ ployment in industries essential to
| the war services.
This announcement was made in
/ the house Of commons Monday by
Sir Auckland Geddes. minister of
| national service whose statement of
! the governments man power pro-
posals was replete with interesting
! details of Britain's strength in the
/ struggle into which she means TO
\ throw her full resources.
The minister set forth the status
| and needs of the British fighting
and munitioning forces and the
measures the government is taking
/ after agreement with most of the
/ labor leaders for recruitment from
/ the classes of skilled workers who
were promised exemption when con-
scription was adopted.
over Million Enrolled.
The empire has enrolled 100000
\ fighting and labor battalion forces
/ during the war, according to the
statement Of the minister and now
/ has more than 100000 fighting
men enrolled. but needs more men
TO hold its own against the enemy
until the American strength is
available.
He praised the spirit in which the
/ labor leaders have met the govern
ment. but regretted that the Anal
gamated Society of Engineers had
remained outside the conference,
adding however. that the invitation
was still open to the members Of
/ this society. He paid warm tribute
| TO the work of the women and de-
! clared that some of the young men
among the million exempted work
ers apparently considered them
| selves a privileged class and threat
ened TO hold up strikes, the build
| ing airplanes and ships.
IF they do" he exclaimed. they
will get such a blast Of hatred it
will surprise them"
Man Power Means Everything.
Sir Auckland Geddes. minister of
national service. prefaced his re-
marks on me governments man
power proposals by the declaration
| that nothing could be more mis-
| leading than the suggestion that the
man power problem could be solv-
| ed by a dramatic stroke. 1t was
| the central problem of the war.
ct means everything" he said,
ships, armies, munitions. food,
light, heat and coal. AT the mo-
ment the most anxious problem is
not the supply of men for the army.
1 But we have TO take steps against
the time when it will be-a time,
which 1 believe, is not far distant"
Going into the details of the sit
uation the minister said in part:
The plain facts do not support
! the statement that the armies are
melting for lack of recruits and that
recruiting has broken.
The government has examined in
detail the position of the allies on
| rhe eastern front. and the results
are not unsatisfactory. Excluding
| Russia and Roumania. the allies
have a substantial superiority in
fighting and ration strength over
the central powers. From a statis-
! teal standpoint the strength of the
enemy gives no cause for anxiety.
The withdrawal Of Russia means
that not less than 100000 men
will be made available on the west
ern front Notwithstanding Rus
sia's detection. the resources of the
allies and America are sufficient TO
assure victory, and nothing but
PSYCHOLOGICAL catastrophe can save
the central powers.
All Depends On Britain Now.
Every day the hitting force Of
Britain becomes Of greater import
ance to the alliance. Russia no
longer strikes for freedom. France
has poured forth her strength in
the struggle and cannot sustain the
full burden indefinitely; America is
not vet in the field, and months
must pass before she can advance
with full stride; Italy has suffered
grave misfortunes.
con Britain and on the skill with
which she handles her man power
in the months to come everything
| depends.
AT sea we must be supreme; in
the air we must win supremacy.
and on land we must do the best we
can 10 NIL the gap Russia has made
until America can take her place
And all the time we have TO keep
our vital industries going"
While the enemy possessed the
advantage of an interior position,
with a good railway system. contin-
ued the minister, she possessed no
corresponding advantage in stabil-
ity and solidarity Of population.
Discussing the age question, he
said that the Germans were using
| BOYS OF IS on the Russian front and
that Austria has raised the limit 10
SIS years Analysing the enemy's
strength. he declared that the Ger
mans would be able 10 withdraw
$50. 600 men from the eastern front
/ and the Ausrrians would be able 10
release enough 10 make the total
100000.
Entente Forces Equal Foe Now.
SIR Auckland assured the house
that the entente allies at the pres
ent time in numbers and morale
were on equal terms with the forces