Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-03-07
COMPULSORY
SERVICE FOR
OCCUPATION
ARMY URGED
~.
Guest Introduces Bill to this
Effect in British
House.

London, Thursday, March 6.-Cap-
tain T. T.. Guest, introduced bill in
the house of commons today which
proposes compulsory service for the
British army of occupation. This
: army, according to the bill would be
composed of nine hundred thousand
men and the enlistment period would
expire on April 80, 1920. Alexander
OF the measure because the labor par
ty is opposed to a, continuance Of con-
scription.
Colonel, Winston Spencer Churchill
argued that the government, in pro-
vlding for an army to insure peace,
was pursuing path toward univer-
sal voluntary service"
"Our delegates to the peace con-
ference are fighting for the complete
he said. A formal demand has been
made that Germany be permitted to
have only q small voluntary army on
long service basis. Our representa-
tives stand almost alone in this mat
ter and it Is not at all impossible that
Japan, France and Italy and even the
United States will be nations into
whose military systems some element
of compulsory service may enter.''
AASIC 4S uOI ILc Sl1SlllcSL
the suggestion that this bill is design
ed to raise troops to be sent into Rus
sia," he continued. IF there was no
such place as Russia, T, would still be
advocating this bill. No one would
be SO foolish as to suggest interven-
tion in Russia with conscript troops.
Our army along the Rhine and on the
approaches leading up that river
numbers about 100000 men which is
Io~ Y,>sk C<1<1
army there and much smaller than
the forces France is maintaining in
the occupied area"
leader maintained that the bill in
volved no departure from election
pledges and evoked loud cheers by
asking:
"Is it really suggested that afte,
fighting side by side with France for
ing to leave it to France alone :"
He concluded by declaring that
Premier Clemenceau had said
IF we do not take care, when the
British and American armies have
disappeared we shall be faced again
\ by the same danger
The bill passed second reading by
vote of 304 to II. 60
'If the effect Of this bill was in any
ton was to be. our system in the fu
ture, a; would thoroughly sympathizs
! with I'll sop posit1 r1eAeta1 6gaat It
1t is my belief 9iat It I'M fan lrom Hha
because the securing Of the fruits ol
the victory which has been bough
SO dearly will be the best safeguard
against conscription. There has beer
no departure from the pledges Of thu
government relative to the future
military organization Of the countr!
atter the present emergency ha'
passed. ~
Mr.. Bonar Law pointed out tha
whatever Great Britain might d.
France would have to keep men OF
, guard against the Germans.
IT do not think" added the gov
ernm.nt leader, "that you in thi
house sufficiently realize the French
point of view in regard to this ques
ton. We see that the old danger O
invasion has been taken away, bu
what does France see? She sees
lying for the moment sprawling OF
the ground, the savage beast which
has been tearing her entrails for foul
years, and do you think that is {
danger she can face with equanimity
until the power of that beast for evi
has been destroyed?"