Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-04-11
MAN-POWER BILL
Continued from Page One)

quits and not oppose the bill fur.
Their. He had no hope that home
rule bill acceptable to Ireland could
be passed.
Ex-Premier Asquith said he much
doubted whether the raising of the
military age to so would result in
the increased military efficiency ex-
pected.
Dealing with Ireland, he said that
service when it was proposed for
Great Britain should be extended to
Ireland had already been twice con-
sidered by the late government and
on both occasions had been deliber-
ately rejected.
There was both constitutional ana
revolutionary movement in Ireland. Mr..
Asquith went on. The evidence showed
that the latter was waning but it still
existed and had to be reckoned with.
He suggested that the government
would be guilty Of terrible short sight
edness at time when the Irish conven-
ton had completed its labor and when
it was asking the House to accept a
far-reaching measure of self-govern-
ment in imposing on Ireland compul-
sion which was obnoxious to very
large number of the Irish people. 1t
was all important that unnecessary do
mestic controversy should be avoided
and that united and unbroken front
should be presented 20 the people, the
Allies and the world.
Andrew Bonar Law, spokesman for
the government said that what hai
/ happened in France was unexpected
That was why this bill was presented.
1T is useless to conceal from our
selves the real position he said. TN
tile the battle began the balance of
forces was not against the Allies on
the western front. Not only the gov
ernment, but the British and French
. military advisers believed there was no
danger of anything fatal happening
Wherever the fault lies. it does not re-
lieve the necessity of filling the rank ;
IN the army unless we are prepa red to
accept the position that we cannot win
We have been able to fill the wastage
in the battle thus far. but according 10
the figures of the casualties available
the most critical time is likely to arise
at the end Of May and June. We have
succeeded to some extent in meeting
the difficulty by what the Americans
have done. We cannot put too high our
admiration OF President Wilson action
in this matter in brgading the .meri-
can troops. Nothing but absolute neces-
sity could have justified our making
such a demand or President Wilson :
acceding to it,
There were still eight months at least
OF this campaign left Mr.. Bonar Law
continued, and the men conscrpted now
would become available Just at the time
they were needed. The government hal
already put in men of four months o.
less training
What We are doing now" he said
might mean the difference between
victory and defeat
With regard to Ireland, the govern
ment did not contemplate without re-
luctance or hesitation doing anything
which threatened 10 make Ireland Eng
lands enemy. 1T ough. not to be go
The government was asking Ireland to
do nothing which was not asked from
the citizens Of every beiigerent coun-
try.
We acted only after mature consid-
eration,' said MIR Honar Law. land We
are not going to alter our decision If
the country thinks we are making Il
mistake we will do our utmost Loyalty to
support any other government which
carries on the war"