13 APRIL 1918, Page 2

risk in view of what they thought was a greater

risk. Every man who would be useful was needed to secure victory and avert defeat in the battle, on which the enemy had staked his all. As for Ireland, Mr. Boner Law admitted that he, like Mr. Lloyd George, had formerly thought Conscription unwise, but the conditions had changed. Ireland might yield four hundred thousand recruits, and they were sorely needed. The Government had made up their minds to apply Conscription to Ireland, and they would resign if the proposal was rejected. If the House was not prepared to accept the clause, members might as well vote against the second reading of the Bill. On a division, the second reading was carried by 323 votes to 100.