Evening star., 1918-04-09
FATE Of LIBERTY
DEPENDS ON ALLIED
SUCCESS IN WEST
Lloyd George Tells House OF
Commons That Battle Hurrl-
cane Is Not Yet Over.
By the Associated Press.

menced the total combatant strength
of the German army on the west front
was approximately equal to the total
of the entente allies.
In the course of his speech the British
premier said:
1--WE have now entered the most criti-
cal period Of the war. ThFe is lull in
the storm. but the hurricane is not yet
over. The fate Of the empire, of Europe
and Of liberty may depend upon the
success with which the last German at
tack is resisted and countered."
Mr.. Lloyd George said his man-powef
proposaI would involve an extreme sac.
rifice by part Of the population OF Great
Britain.
The Cambrai battle, he said. was
very trivial event when compared with
the recent battle, and until the strain
had relaxed 1t would be difficult to find
out exactly what had happened.
The premier said the cabinet had
taken every step to hurry reinforce
ments. The number of guns and pris-
oners taken had been exaggerated
grossly by the Germans.
The ministry Of munitions. the pre-
mfer added. had been able to replace
the guns and there, were substantial
fident the army would be equal to the
next encounter.
To Recall Gen. Cough.
Mr.. Lloyd George said the cabinet
had decided to recall Gen. Cough. who
against which the Germans made their
principal gains. Until all the circum-
stances Of his retirement were known.
however, it would be unfair. he said.
to censure him.
Having gained an initial success. Mr..
Lloyd George went on. the enemy was
greater attac ok. and 1t would
be a fatal error to underestimate 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 recommen-
dations in order to assist the country
and it's 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 them except the
most extreme necessity and the fact
that the nation was fighting for all
which was essential and most sacred
to the national life. -
The Germans attacked with ninety
seven divisions Approximately 1,160.-
000)s the premier toftf tfe~ hosse. They
are relying on the idea that the allfes
to divide the French and British
armies.
At one time Of the battle the situation
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 enc
my attacks made by Gen. Sir Henry
Wilson, chief of the Imperial staff. was
by the premier as the
most remarkable ever made.
Advantage With Germans.
In opening the battle, he continued.
the Germans had an exceptional advan-
tage in the weather, which was dirty
and misty. They had organized their
troops to produce a greater number of
divisions and had the advantage of the
initiative. with the consequent knowl-
edge as to the width, strength and di-
mensions Of the attack. There were
large concentrations OF German troops
at various points of the line.
Owing to the ease with which troops
the element Of surprise could not be
eliminated.
No Army was ever before transferred
across the channel as quickly as were the
troops sent to relieve the situation, the
premier asserted. He referred to the ap-
pointment Of Cen. Foch to supreme COM
mand Of the allied strategy and said 1t
was the most important decision which
had been taken regarding the coming bat
tie.
Americans to Fight at Once.
The premier said the fighting strength
of the Americans would be brought to
bear Immediately, although it was I'M
possible to put into France at the mo-
ment the number Of trained Americans
as a separate army that had been ex-
pected. The Americans would be brigad-
er with allied troops.
The issue of the great battle might
well be determined. Mr. Lloyd George
declared. by the dramatic Intervention
of President Wilson and his action in
placing the American troops at the dis
posal of the allies. 1t was impossible
to over-estimate the Presidents 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 determination Of
America beyond anything that had yet
been heard.
The British reserves. Mr. Lloyd George
said further. had been drawn upon to
considerable extent to make up for
wastage. II the battle continued on the
same scale, the drain on. man power
must cause anxiety.
When an emergency had arisen
which made it necessary to put men
fight for liberty, Mr.. Lloyd George de-
clared, 1t was not possible to exclude
ireland from conscription by a parlia-
ment In which Ireland was represented
and which had committed the country
to the war without dissenting voice.
Referring to the Turkish campaign.
Mr.. Lloyd George said two Turkish
armies had been destroyed in Pales-
tine and Mesopotania. German bat
talions had been sent to help the Turks
in Palestine, thereby relieving the west
ern front. -
Fight Might Last Eight Months. :
TIL premier said the fight might Gen.
tinue for seven or eight months.
For the British army and navy, he
stated, almost 100000 men had been
raised already.
Parliament reassembled after Easter re-
cess with two questions Of great import
ance upon its hands. The first is the new
military service bill. which raises the
age limit eight years and makes those
born after hxed date in the spring Of
1857 liable to bear arms. The second
is another. and what promises to be a
strong attempt to deal with the ancient
and always contentious problem Of gov
ernment for Ireland.
Both these issues have been thrust
upon the cabinet during the brief re-
cess the first by the desperate German
attacks in France, which demand all the
men tho allies can muster as Qufckly