The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-04-13

visions approximately 1,160,0 meh)
the Premier told the house. They
were relying on the idea that the AL
lies had no united command and Elk
pected to divide the French and Brit
ish armies.
AT one time of the battle the situ-
alton was critical. The enemy broke
through between the Third and Fifth
Armies. The situation was retrieved
by the magnificent conduct of the
troops, which retired but were not
routed.
The forecast regarding probable en-
emy attacks made by Gen. Sir Henry
Wilson, chief of the imperial staff,
was characterized by the Premier as
the most remarkable ever made.
In opening the battle, he continued.
the Germans had an exceptional ad-
vantage in the weather., which was
dirty and misty They had organized
eAAN'i ~ OOpo ~ III OVUCC greater
number Of divisions and had the ad
vantage of the initiative, with the
consequent knowledge as to the
width strength and dimensions of
the attack. There were large con-
centratiOns of German troops at va
rious points of the line. Owing to the
ease with which troops could be NOV
ed at night, he explained, the element
OF surprise could not be eliminated.
No army was ever before transferr-
red across the channel as quickly as
were the troops which were sent to
relieve the situation, the Premier as
serted. He referred to the appoint
ment of Gen. Foch to supreme COM
mand of the Allied strategy and said
II was the most important decision
taken regarding the coming battle.
The Premier said the fighting
strength OF the Americans would be
brought to bear Immediately, although
it was impossible to put into France
at the moment the number of trained
Americans as a separate army that
had been expected. The Americans
would be brigaded with Allied troops.
Referring to the Turkish cam
paign, Mr. LlOyd-George said two
Turkish armies had been destroyed in
Palestine and Mesopotamia, two Ger
man battaliOns had been sent to help
the Turks i'm Palestine. thereby reliev-
ing the western front. The Premier
said the fight might continue for sew
EN- or eight months.
With the British army and navy. he
said, almost six million men had been
raised already
The issue Of the great battle might
well be determined, Mr.. Lloyd George
declared, by the dramatic interventios
Of President Wilson and his action in
placing the American troops at the
disposal of the Allies. 1t was impos
sible to overestimate the presidenaAe
offer, as the battle might very well be
the decisive struggle Of the war. He
added that the German attack had
stirred up the resolution and determi
nation of America beyond anything
that has yet been heard
The British reserves, Mr.. Lloyd
George said further, had been drawn
upon to q considerable extent to mak.
up for wastage. If the battle con
tinued on the same scale the drain on
manpower must cause anxiety.
When an emergency had ariser
which made it necessary to put mel
of so and boys of IS into the fight 70
liberty, Mr.. Lloyd George declared, Il
was not possible to exclude Ireland
from conscription by a Parliament II,
which Ireland was represented and
which had committed the country tc
the war without a dissenting voice.
The character Of the quarrel II.
"H'Nh 'iic Sooiitiy WIZ elSuSSu, t1t
Premier said. was as much Irish a.
English.
When Mr.. Lloyd George referred
Ireland, Alfred Byrne, Nationals
member from Dublin, shouted:
I'VE won't have conscription in Ire
land"
An uproar followed
The report or the Irish convention
was adopted by "a majority only an,
| therefore the government would talk,
the responsibility. said the Premier
Tor such proposals for self-govern
ment rs were just and could be car.
rled out without violent controversy.
| 1t would be some weeks before en-.
roilment I'm Ireland began, the Pre-
mier continued. one Nationalist crieo