Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-04-09
ALL DEPENDS
NDEFEAT OF
FINAL BLOW
Most Critical Stage Of
War at Hand Declares
Lloyd George.

London, April Q. - Premier
Lloyd George told the house OF
commons today that when the
battle on the SOmme front COM
menced, the total cOmbatant
strength Of the German army
on the west front was approx
mateiy equal to the total OF the
entente allies.
Mr.. Lloyd George said his man
power bill would involve an eX-
treme sacrifice by part of the pop
/ ulation of Great Britain.
The Cambria battle, he said, was
a very trivial event when COM
/ pared with the recent battle and
until the strain had relaxed 1t
would be difficult to find out exact
! ly what had happened,
In the course of his speech the
British premier said:
"We have now entered the most
critical period of the war. There
is a lulI in the storm but the hur-
ricane is not yet over. The fate
of the empire of Europe and Of lib
erty may depend on the success
with which the last German attack
Is TtSlSlEu anu COuhLGl tu
The premier said the cabinet
had taken every step to hurry rein
forcements. The number Of guns
and prisoners taken had been ex-
aggerated grossly by the Germans.
The ministry of munitions, the
premier added, had been able to re-
place the guns and there were sub
stantial reserves left. The cabinet
was confident that the army would
be equal to the next encounter.
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 gains.
Outlook Grave.
Having gained an initial success,
| Lloyd George went on, the enemy
was preparing a greater attack and
| it would be a fatal error to under
estimate the gravity Of the pros
pect.
In view OF the critical period
which had ben reached, said the
| premier, the government purposed
to submit to parliament certain
| resolutions in order to assist the
country
He regretted to say that these in
! volved extreme sacrifices on the
bart of large classes of the popula-
tion 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
Critical at One Time.
At one time of the battle the situa-
7 tion was critical. The enemy broke
through between the third and fifth
armies. The situation was re-
trieved by the magnificent conduct
OF the troops which retired but
were not routed.
The forecast regarding probable
enemy attacks made by General Sir
| Henry Wilson, chief of the imperial
staff, was characterized by the
premier, as the most remarkable
ever made.
They had organized their troops
to produce a greater number Of di-
visions and had the advantage Of
the initiative, strength and dimen-
sions of the attack. There were
large concentration of troops at
various points of the line.
Americans to Be Used.
The premier said the fighting
strength of the Americans would
be brought to bear Immediately, al
though it was impossible to put in
to France at the moment the num-
ber of trained Americans as a
separate army that had been ex-
pected.
The Americans would be brigad-
ed with allied troops
Referring TO the Turkish cam
paign. Lloyd George said two
Turkish armies had been destroyed
in Palestine and Mesopotamia. Ger
man battalions had been sent 10
help the Turks in Palestine, there
by relieving the western front.
May Fight Eight Months.
The premier said the fight might
continue for seven OF eight months.
The issue of the great battle
might well be determined. Lloyd
George declared, by the dramatic
Intervention of President Wilson
and his action in placing an Amer
lean army at the disposal OF the al
lies.
1t was impossible 10 over esti-
mate the presidents offer as the
battle might very well be the deci-
sive struggle of the war. He add
ed that the German attack had
stirred up the resolution and the
determination OF America beyond
anything that had yet been heard.
The British reserve, Lloyd George
said, had been drawn upon 20
considerable extent 20 make up for
wastage. II the battle continued on
the same scale. the drain on man
power must cause anxiety"
The proportion OF men between
AZ and so available for lighting said
the premier. was estimated at seven
per cent. The recruiting tribunals
would be reconstructed and the
grounds Tor exemption and limits
OF the right - enpeal would be
standardized. Clergy. zen would be
required 10 perform non -combatant
service. No one under 25 years OF
age would be retained in any in
dustrv-