Omaha daily bee., 1918-04-10
L|BERTY'S ~
SOON DECIDED.
I LL0YD.GEORGE
Premier Declares CONSUMPTION
Must Be Extended to Ireland;
Irish Members Interrupt
Speaker on Issue.

London, April o.-Premier Lloyd
George told the House of Commons
today that when the battle on the
Somme front began the total COM
batant strength of the German army
on the west front was approximately
equal to the total of the entente al
lies.
Mr.. Lloyd George said his man
power proposal would involve an ex-
treme sacrifice by part of the popula-
ton of Great Britain.
The Cambria battle, he said, was
very trivial event when compared with
the recent battle, and until the strain
had relaxed it would be difficult to
| find out exactly what had happened.
Hurricane Not Over.
In the course of his speech the
British premier said:
I'VE have now entered the most
critical period of the war. There is
lull in the storm, but the hurricane
is not yet over. The fate of the EN-
pire, of Europe and of liberty. may de-
pend upon the success with which the
last German attack is resisted and
countered."
Premier Lloyd George announced
in the House of Commons that the
Irish convention report had been laid
on the table today.
1t was the governments purpose,
the premier continued, to have a strict
combing out of the essential indus
tries. Men had been recruited from
the munitions and mining industries,
and further $4,000 would be neces-
sary from the latter. Transport and
civil service would be called upon for
men. The age. for military service
would be raised to 50, and in certain.
specified cases might be increased
toss. ..=a
Extend Draft to Ireland.
Premier Lloyd George said the man
power act would be extended to Ire
land under the same conditions as to
Great Britain and that a measure of
self-government for Ireland would be
introduced.
The premier said he hoped to get
the bill through all its stages this
week as it was matter of urgency.
He was interrupted by an Irish men,
Der who shouted:
"You will have to get us out Of the
house first" !
Resuming, Mr.. Lloyd George said
while we have one ship ahoat, we
should not accept a German peace.
The men being taken now may be the
means of decisive issue"
The premier, in speaking of the
western front battle, said the cabinet
had taken every step to hurry rein
forcements. The number of guns and
prisoners taken had been exaggerated
grossly. The number of guns and
prisoners taken had been exaggerated
grossly by the Germans.
The ministry or munitions, the pre-
mier added, had been able to replace |
guns and there were substantial re-
serves left. The cabinet was con-
fdent the army would be equal to the |
next encounter.
Recall General Cough.
Mr.. Lloyd George said the cabinet |
had decided to recall General Cough,
who was in command of the fifth
army, against which the Germans
made their principal gains. Until all |
the circumstances OF his retirements |
were known, however, it would be TN |
fair, he said, to censure him.
Having gained an initial success,
Mr.. Lloyd George went on, the enemy
was preparing a greater attack and |
it would be fatal error to under |
estimate the gravity of the prospect. |
In view of the critical period which !
had been reached, said the premier, |
the government purposed to submit |
to Parliament today certain recom-
mendations in order to assist the |
country and its allies to weather the |
storm. He regretted to say that these
proposals involved extreme sacrifices |
on the part of large classes of the |
population and nothing would justify |
Continued on Page -Four, Column Three.) |