The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-11-08
ENGLAND NEEDS MEN;
WAR OFFICE BLAMED
Papers, Accusing Authorities Of
Encouragement, Favor
CONSUMPTION.
MANY RECRUITS NEEDED
srtcInl cnbl, p,.ratch 70 rn. SEE.

Special Gable Despdfch 10 THs sen
LONDON, Nov. IA question which IL
Nlline the press and exercising the minds
1t the public Is that ct providing men for
mo British army. For a while In the
carliest days Of tho war recruiting was
lack and what news was allowed TO bs
published was ono long story or German
disasters Thrn the British contingent
reached the firing line.
The British casualty lists came along,
tho Belgian tragedy became known and
tns recruits fairly overwhelmed all the
proparatons that had been made 10 re-
ctive them The figures reached 10000
daily After that the standard OF meas
urements was raised. This naturally
caused q decrease and that decrease has
continued until to-day recruiting IL below
tho mark which the authorities desire.
with the recruits for Lord Kitchener's
army. the immediate filing mp Of the ter
ritorials aud the formation or development
~ other bodies more than l,OOO,OOO men
will have Joined tho British army since
tho war began Hut another million, or
perhaps. two are needed. and the rate OF
recruiting to-day shows little prospect OF
getting them In time
with peculiar unanmity IN the last
couple OF DAYS the English press has taken
M tho question editorially, practically
without distinction 81 party. The press
recognizes IN. Mood Of men and ursea
men IN enlist with the same unaninity
Il declares the falling OFT In recruiting II
Jus 10 mistake ~ the authorities
whether the T;uverninen, or the war Office
matters littlc--such Ia the charge
"Msny False steps"
leaving as,de papers whose views
might be expected to he very strong on
a,ich A point ana unhanpered by any
particular tenderness for the Government
m. Liberal and peaceful Daily Chronicle
after asking why there IL such shortage
~ recruits declares that the fault Is not
with the people hut mainly with tho War
OTco and the Government. which have
made AT least half dozen false steps
which amply account for any failure
stops" concludes the D1Ns Chronicle,
which those whose business n IL to keen
IN touch With popular sentiment have
alpavs known must spell failure
The paIiu chronicle. like She other pa
rer-, cnumerates the Camping down In
recruiting IN september. and also the mis-
take. continuing ono, OF the military
censorship. q says or the latter point.
while the British hunt war correspond
cnts like rariahs the Germans give them
of'risl facilities"
The paper thcn rcfeV 10 fault In
pxychology IN the total neglect Of bands
imagination, personal magnetism and pop
ular sympathy. II continues
whitehall thinks 40 little 90 Us Job
hat II has nut four successive heads over
tho recruiting dcpa rtment In two months
and Is apparently changing It's mon every
time II wants somebody somevhere else"
Ulsm~s Condition Of Campo.
The condition OF tho camps and the re
fussl TO accept local and civilian help in
non-nlitary matters are also quoted az at
the root OF the mismanagement. as well as
the. unfavorable reports which reach homo
from enlisted men. This OF course refers
to men who are not yet at the front while
the neglect OF decent provision FOR widows
and disabled soldiers, who arc still pro-
Nided for on the most beggarly scale Tin
ishes this Indictment OF the Government
ny all organ which concludes its article
by saving: ALREADY the neglect and de.
lay of the Government IN this matter
seam to us perhaps tho leas. praise
worthy feature Of the whole OF their col
lective record"
The most significant feature ~ this
practically unanimous attack on the au-
ihoritieS Hs being blameworthy entirely
for tho shortage OF recruits Il the re-
crudescence Of the talk OF conscrption IN
some form or other There are not lack
Ing those who consider that the military
authorities prefer this certain method OF
getting men 20 the chances OF waves Of
patriotic fcrvor and have handled things
accordingly Anyway, the fact remains
mat compulsory service OF some kind Is
IN" topic Of the day, despite the fact that
~" rush OF recruits AZ the end OF August
and carly in September made people gay, .
THIS sounds the knell OF any form OF
'onscripuon FOR another generation a,
least"