The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1918-01-25
ENGLAND IN NEED
HALF MILLION men
MINISTER OF NATIONAL SERVICE
REVIEWS MAN POWER PLANS
OF NATION.
OFFSET DETECTION RUSSIA
Government Has Decided Not to In
troduce CONSUMPTION in ireland
for Present and Will Not
Raise Age Limit.

London, Jan. 15.-Nearly half mil
lion men from Great Britain alone ar
to be recruited into the British arm,
Mt the nearest date possible and it i:
probable that many more will be re
cruited in the coming months. These
will comprise the younger men. wht
up to the present have been exemp
because of their employment in indus
tries essential to the war service.
The announcement was made in the
house of commons yesterday by Sill
Auckland Geddes, minister of national
service, whose statement of the gov
ernments man power proposals was
replete with interesting details of Brit
aims strength in the struggle into
which she means to throw her full
resources.
Tells Need of Fighting Forces.
The minister set forth the status
and needs of the British fighting and
munitions forces and the measures
the government is taking after agree
ment with most of the labor classes
for recruitment from the skilled work
ers who were promised exemption
when CONSUMPTION was adopted.
The empire has enrolled 100000
fighting and labor battalion forces
during the war, according to the state
ment of the minister. and now has
more than 100000 enrolled, but needs
more men to hold its own against
the enemy until American strength
is available.
Sir Auckland prefaced his remarks
on the governments man power pro-
posals by the declaration that moth
ing could be more misleading than the
suggestion that the man power prob
lem could be solved by dramatic
stroke. 1t was the central problem Of
the war.
at 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, / be-
lieve, is not far distant"
Going into the details of the situa-
ton, the minister said in part:
1.-The plain facts do not support |
the statement that the armies are
melting for lack of recruits and that |
recruiting has broken down.
1.-THE government has examined in |
detail the position of the allies on the
eastern front, and the results are not
Excluding Russia, the
allies have substantial superiority in
fighting and ration strength over the
central powers. From a statistical
standpoint, the strength of the enemy
gives no cause for anxiety.
Russia's Withdrawal.
"The withdrawal of Russia means
hat no less than 100000 men will be
made available on the western front.
Russia's detection,
he resources of the allies and Ameri-
"a are sufficient to assure victory and
lothing but psychological catastrophe
an save the central powers.
Every day the hitting force of
Britain becomes of greater Importance
o the alliance. Russia no longer
trikes for freedom France has poured
orth her strength in the struggle and
annot sustain the full burden indefi-
itely; America is not yet in the field,
nd months must elapse before she can
dvance with full stride; Italy has suf-
cred grave misfortunes.
Sir Auckland assured the house that '
he entente allies at the present time I
4 numbers and morale were on equal |
erms with the forces of the enemy at {
resent opposed to them, and with l
ne necessary reinforcements, to be c
1und during the year, could face any L
dditional forces which the enemy q
ould bring. When the full force of c
merica came into play, superiority
ould be established finch would be II
lie sure herald of complete and final {
Glory. u
The navy personnel, said the min =
ter had expanded during the war
ON 10000 to 100000. The army to-
~ had more than 100000 men on
e rolls. The combined air service In
I'd increased from 1000 to 5000. al