The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1918-01-17

at the earliest date possible, ana
is probable that many more Will b
added. to that number in the comln
Months. These will comprise tn
younger men, who, up to the presen
have been exempt because OF thel
enpIoyment in industries essential t.
the war service.
This announcement was made IN tn
honse of commons today by Sir Aurk
land Geddes, minister OF national ser
vice. whose statement of the govern
msut's man power proposals was re
1lete with interesting details of Brl
tain's strength in the struggle int
which she means to throw her full re
sources.
Gives Status of Forces
The minister set forth the statu
and needs Of the British fighting AM
munitioning forces and the measure
the government is taking after agree
nienr with most of the labor leader
for recruiting from the classes O.
skilled workers who were promised
exem ption when CONSUMPTION wa
adopted.
The empire has enrolled 7,500,00(
fighting and labor battalion force:
during the war, according to tn
statement Of the minister, and nov
has more than 100000 enrolled, bu
needs more men to hold it's owl
against the enemy until the Ameri
can strength is available.
Praises Labor
He praised the spirit in which the
labor leaders have met the govern.
aant, but regretted that the amalga.
mated society of engineers had re-
manned outside the conference, add
ing, however, that the invitation was
still open to the members of this so.
eaety. HIS paid warm tribute to the
work of the women, and declared that
some of the young men among the
millions exempted of workers, appar-
entity considered themselves a priv
aleged class and threatened to hold
up by strikes the building of air
planes and ships.
IF they do" he exclaimed, "they
will get such blast Of hatred it will
surprise them."
He prefaced his remarks on the gov
ernment's man-power proposals by the
declaration that nothing could be
more misleading than the suggestion
that the man power problem could be
solved by dramatic stroke. 1t was
The central problem of the war.
Means Everything
1T means everything" he said,
ships, armies, munitions, food, light,
heat, and coal. At the moment, the
most anxious problem is not the sup
ply of men for the army. But we
have to take steps against the time
when it will be-a time which, l be-
heve, is not far distant"
Going into the details of the situa-
tlon, the minister said in part:
"The plain facts do not support the
statement that the armies are melting
for lack of recruits and that recruit
ing has broken down.
Does Not Fear Enemy
THE government has examined in
detail the position of the allies on the
western front and the results are not
unsatisfactory Excluding Russia and
Rumania, the allies have a substan-
tial superiority in fighting and ra-
ton. strength over the Central Pow
ers. From a statistical standpoint the
enemy gives no cause for anxiety.
THE withdrawal of Russia means
that not less than 100000 men will
he made available on the western
fznnE- Notwithstanding Russia's de-
lection, the resources of the allies and
America. are sufficient to assure vic
tory and nothing but a psychological
catastrophe can save the Central
Powers.
Depends on England
Every day the hitting force of
Britain becomes of greater import
ance to the alliance. Russia no long
sr strikes for freedom; France has
poured forth her strength in the
struggle and cannot sustain the full
burden indefinitely; America is not
yet in the field, and months must
slapse before she can advance with
full stride; Italy has suffered grave
n,isfortunes.
>'On Britain and on the skill with
which she handles her man power in
the months to come, everything de-
pends.
AT sea we must be supreme; in the
air we must win supremacy and or
laud we must do the best we can tt
ill the gap Russia has made unit
America can take her place. Anc
all the time we have to keep our vita
industries going"
While the enemy possessed the ad
vantage Of an interior position with
good railway system, continued the
minister, they possessed no CORES
ponding advantages in stability ant
solidarity of public opinion.
Germans Use Boys
Discussing lineage question, he sale
shat' the Germans were using boys O.
Is on the Russian front, and that Aus
ula. has raised the limit to SIS years
-Arsalyzing the enemy's strength, h
declared the Germans would be abb
70 withdraw 100000 men from tn
eastern front, and the Austrians woult
he able to release enough to make tn
sotal 100000.
Sir Auckland assured the hous
rI1zx the entente allies at the presen
time in numbers and morale were OF
sousl terms with the forces of tn
snemy at present opposed to then
and with the necessary reinforce
msats, which would be found durin
the year, could face any additions
forces which the enemy could bring
when the full force of America cam
Ito play, superiority would be es
tahlished (which would be the sur
herald of complete and final victory,
The naval personnel, said the mir
lster, had expanded during the wa