The Washington herald., 1918-04-10
WE AREEQUAL
TOFOE ATTACK
LLOYD GEORGE
Statesman Tells Parliamea'
Worlds Fate Rests in
Picardy Battle.
PRESIDENT COMMENDED
Consumption Issue Protest
ed by Irish Nationalists;
Scene Follows.
PRESIDENT COMMENDED

London, April o.-From the
lips OF Premier Lloyd George in
Parliament, Britain today heard
the plain, bitter truth that in the
Picardy battle the fate of the
world is at stake and that extreme
sacrifices from the whole nation,
from boys OF I8 and men of so
and from the manhood of Ireland
are required now and Immediately,
lest the battle, and liberty, be lost
But with his clarion call was
mingled a declaration of unshakc-
able faith in the future:
Il am confident the armies arc
quite equal to the next attack"
Then the premier launched into
a glowing eulogy of America. He
summed up his feelings thus:
The issues OF the next battle
might very we'll be determined by
the action of President Wilson in
placing American troops at -the
disposal of the allies. 1t is i'm
possible to overestimate the value
OF the offer"
Interrupted by Dfseord.
Into the prime minister's grave and
inspiring speech rang a shrill dtsc0rd
II was the Crv of "NeverI' from the
Irish NatiOnaists in answer 10 the
speakers announcement that the time
has come when eonscription must be
applied to Ireland. A tumultuous scene
followed.
John Dillon. Redmond's successor as
Nationalist leader, was the first TO
jump to his feet as the premier was
saying that 1T is impossible longer
10 justify the exclusion of Ireland from
cOnscTiption.'
You'll not get a single Irishman by
COmPuIsiOn," shouted the new Nation
alist Chieftain at the top Of his voice.
one arm raised in a threatening ges-
ture.
1t was the signal for a general muir
mJr of approval from the Nationalist
benches. and one by one the leaders
got Up to give vent to their feelings in
fOrcefuI. defiant expressions.
Come and get u.s. shouted one.
You'll never get u.s." cried another.
Waits for Quiet.
Thoroughly composed. the Premier
waited for the verbal storm to blow
over. then resumed his speech, calmly
elucidatins his reasons and purposes,
only to be interrupted by new shouts.
With persuasive earnestness he told
the protestants that this war was
lands, that Ireland had stood to a
man in acclaiming England's en-
trance into the conflict as the cham
pion of a noble cause, and that when
E.ngland's boys of eighteen and her
men OF fifty were called upon to rush
TO the final. supreme defence of that
cause. Ireland's manhood could moi
stand by idle.
Continuing. the Premier dwelt upon
the extreme gravity OF the crisis.
The fate OF the empire. of Europe
and of liberty" said he. may depend
on the success with which the final
attack is resisted.
If we win the present battle, the
doom OF Prussianism is sealed"
He then reverted briefly to the
man-power bill, the introduction of
which was the main occasion of his
speech. The report adopted by the
Irish convention, he said, had been
laid on the table. True to its promise,
the government would ROW. he added,
prepare and submit to Parliament a
bill of fair and just self-government
for Ireland which would meet the
wishes of the greatest number of the
islands inhabitants.
Again there were InterruptinG
yar
jeers of Never
While the man power bill, with its
far reaching effect upon Ireland and
urgent call to the people of Britain,
and the enthusiastic praise OF America
were the high spots in the Premier's
speech, the address was replete with
highly Informative and significant
statements bearing on the general war
situation and upon the Picardy battle
in particular.
At the outset he voiced his and his
governments will to win in these
words:
"As long as we have a ship afioat
We will not accept a German peace.
The enemy" he added, lis seeking
a decision this year regardless Of con-
sequences"
Regarding the battle itself, the
Premier said the Germans had thus
far used ninety-seven divisions, or
I154.0OO men, in IT. At the time the
drive started. he added. the allied
and German forces in the west were
about Of equal strength. He sound
ed grave warning that the Ger
mans are now preparing their su-
preme blow. and that II will take
every ounce OF energy and morale
to Withstand II. The allies position
had been stabilized in the meantime,
he said