The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1918-04-09
BRITISH PREMIER
PLEADS IN CRISIS
FOR MORE TROOPS
Battle Of Somme May Last 7
or 8 Months, He Says,
IRISH REPORT IS READY
Government VIII Act on Self
Government Question Soon.

LONDON, April o.-prenier LLOYD
George, IN offering the new man. power
bill to the house Of commons when
parliament reassembled today, declared
That when An emergency had arisen
which made Il necessary 10 put men OF
iifty years and boys Of eighteen into
The fight for liberty, Il was not possible
10 exclude Ireland from eonseription.
Irish Report Il Ready.
The premier announced incidentally
that the Irish convention report had
been laid on the table today.
The report Of the Irish convention
was adopted by majoriiy only, and
therefore the government would take
the responsibility, the premier said, for
such proposals for elf.goyernneni a.
were Just and could be CARVED out with
out violent controversy.
Poe Forces Iquaisd.
Mr.. Lloyd George declared Of the
outset OF his speech that when the battle
OF the Somme front commenced, the
total combatant strength OF the German
army on the west front was approxi-
mately equal to the total Of the entente
allies.
The premier said that the present bat
lie might continue for seven or sight
months, and that the man.powe pro-
posals he was about TO make would In
volve m extreme sacrifice Oh the part
Of the populatioa Of Gssst Britsin.
.,. crisls u Here.
In the course Of NE spssch the Drii.
iah premier laid.l...,, 49,
I'VE have now entered the most crit
lcaI period OF the wsr Thsv is iull
In the storm. but the hufricane b not
yet over The fate Of the empire, OF
Europe, and OF liberty may depend up
on the success with which the last Ger.
man attack IL resisted and conntered."
German Claims Exasgsratsd.
The premier said the cabinet had
taken every step to hurry reinfofee-
ments. The number Of gums and pris-
oners taken had been exaggerated
grossly by the Germans.
The ministry OF munitions, the pre-.
mier added, had been able TO replace
The guns and there were substantial re-
serves left The cabinet was confident
the army would be equal to the next
General Cough Recalled. n
Mr. Lloyd George said the cabinet
had decided to recall General Cough
who was In command OF the Fifttd
army, against which the Germans made
their principal gains. Until oil the
circumstances Of his retirement were
known, however, Il would be Unfair
he said, to censure him. I
Having gained an initial successs
Mr. Lloyd George went on, the enemy
was preparing q greater attack and
would be fatal error to under-esti%
mate the gravity Of the prospect. !
Extreme Sacrifices Due. |
In view OF the critical period whicli
had been reached, said the premier, tho
government proposed to submit TO par
lament todsN certain recommendations
in order 10 assist the country and its
allies. He regretted to say that these
proposals involved extreme sacrifices
IN the part Of large classes OF tho
population and nothing would justify
hem except the most extreme neees-
,ity and the fact that the nation was
lighting for all which was essential
md most sacred TO tho national life.
Hoped to Split Allies.
The Germans attacked with ninety-
even divisions approximately l,l60,4
OO mem, the premier told the house.
They were relying on the idea that tho
lilies had no united command and
expected TO divide the French and
British armies.
AT one time Of the battle the situa
ion was critical The enemy broke
Trough between the Third and Fifth
rmies The situation was retrieved
y the magnificent conduct Of thu
roops, which retired but we're not
outed.
Wilson Forecast Praised.
The forecast regarding probable
nemy attacks made by General Sir
lenry Wilson, chief OF the imperial
taft, was characterized by the premier
$ the most remarkable ever made
Weather Favored Foe.
In opening the battle, he continued,
lie Germans had an exceptional ad-
antage in the weather. which was dirty
nd misty. They had organized their
oops to produce greater number OF
visions and had the advantage Of the
litiatiye with the consequent knowl,
ige as to the width, strength and dim<
,sions OF the attack There we're large
,neentrations OF German troops as,
,rious points on the line. Owing to
e ease with which the troops could b
owed at night, he explained. the ele~
ent Of surprise could not be elimi-
,ted.
No army was ever before transferred