The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-04-13
GREAT BR|TAIx'S DANGER.
IRELAND Is TIE WEAK POINT IN
LINE OF DEFENSE.
Proposal tn Apply Draft Law i'm Ire
land as i'm England Brings BOlG
Threat OF Armed Resistance.

second reading of the man power bill
I'm the house of commons today, Sin
George Cave, Unionist member 70,
Surrey, said it was the duty of the
country to use to the fullest extent
the help given by it's allies. Germany
has made Europe an armed camp. he
added, and the necessity Of takine
every man who could be spared was
overwhelming.
Sir George declared that he had
been advised that the application OF
the man power bill to Ireland would
yield large number of men, but il
only five divisions could be got from
Ireland ii would be worth while.
Sir George, being continually inter-
rupted by Nationalist members, said
he doubted whether the voice of Ire
land had yet been heard in the mat
ter. The speaker Of the house ap-
pealed to the Irish members to give
Sir George n fair hearing.
After Sir Charles Hobhouse, the
former postmaster general, and
Donald MacLean had criticised the
bill, expressing the opinion that the
number of the men over 40 who were
fit for service did not justify raising
the age limit. John Dillon. the Nation
alist leader, said that, apart altogeth
er from Ireland. no case had been
made out for the bin itself.
He challenged the government to
make n plebiscite in ireland and de-
clared that Antrim would vote with
Clare against conscription. The farm.
ers Of Ulster. he said, were against
conscription.
Sir Edward Carson, interrupt.
ing. said:
mo more than the farmers OF
England.
The estimate of 100000 men from
ireland, continued Mr.. Dillon, was
nonsense. Two years ago the figure
was put at 10000 and since then
10000 had volunteered. He believed
that no more than $4,000 could be
obtained without doing infinitely more
injury by destroying the food supply.
The real purpose OF the bill was to
divert public attention and inquiry
from the true causes of the failure on
the Western front. The attempt to ex-
tend the bill to Ireland would open
up another war front in Ireland,
whatever from the conflict took
would spread to America and Aus
tralia and to all the corners of the
1arth where the Irish race were scat
tered. The prospect was that for the
OF the war il must hold
Ireland under strict military law with
ever increasing bitterness.
Ex-Premier Asquith said he much
doubted whether the raising OF the
military age to so would result in the
increased military efficiency expect
ed
Dealing with Ireland he said the
question whether compulsory service
had already been twice considered by
the late government and both occa
sions had been deliberately rejected
Andrew Bonar Law, spokesman for
the government, said that what had
happened in France was unexpected
That was why this bill was presented.
1t is useless to conceal from eur
selves the real position" he said
Until the battle began the balanc,
OF the forces was not against the al
lies on the Western front.
We have been able to fill the vast
age in the battle thus far but, accord
ing to the figures of the casualties
available. the most critical time il
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. W.
can not put too high our admiration
OF President Wilson's action in this
matter in bringing the American
troops.
Cloture was applied and carried by
q vote of 319 to 1O5. and Sir Charles
Hobhouse's amendment declaring thai
while recognizing the gravity of the
military situation the house is Of tho
opinion that the measure diminishes
the naval and economic power Of tn,
nation without adding commensurate
military strength" was defeated by
"a vote Of 321 TO LOG.