us splendid contributions of men, a large number of whom
already are at the front, and before very long, in one or another of the
actual theatres of war, the whole of them will be in the fighting line.
[Cheers.] We hear today with great gratification that the Princess
Patricia's Canadian regiment has been doing, during these last few days,
most gallant and efficient service. [Cheers.]

We have no reason to be otherwise than satisfied with the progress of
recruiting here at home. [Cheers.] The territorial divisions now fully
trained are capable--I say it advisedly--of confronting any troops in
the world, [cheers,] and the new armies, which have lately been under
the critical scrutiny of skilled observers, are fast realizing all our
most sanguine hopes. A war carried on upon this gigantic scale and under
conditions for which there is no example in history is not always or
every day a picturesque or spectacular affair. Its operations are of
necessity in appearance slow and dragging. Without entering into
strategic details, I can assure the committee that with all the
knowledge and experience which we have now gained, his Majesty's
Government have never been more confident than they are today in the
power as well as the will of the Allies to achieve ultimate and durable
victory. [Cheers.] I will not enter in further detail to what I may call
the general military situation, but I should like to call the attention
of the committee for a few moments to one or two aspects of the war
which of late have come prominently into view.

I will refer first to the operations which are now in progress in the
Dardanelles. [Cheers.] It is a good rule in war to concentrate your
forces on the main theatre and not to dissipate them in disconnected and
sporadic adventures, however promising they may appear to be. That
consideration, I need hardly say, has not been lost sight of in the
councils of the Allies. There has been and there will be no denudation
or impairment of the forces which are at work in Flanders, and both the
French and ourselves will continue to give them the fullest, and we
believe the most effective, support. Nor, what is equally important, has
there for the purpose of these operations been any weakening of the
grand fleet. [Cheers.] The enterprise which is now going on, and so far
has gone on in a manner which reflects, as I think the House will agree,
the highest credit on all concerned, was carefully considered and
conce