New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-10-18

wN accounting for his presence in America at
Z this time Jerome X. Jerome told Tribune
man the other day that it unfortu-
nate fact that most of the English writers
were too old to 60 to the war, for otherwise no
plavs novels or verse would be written by
them Among the horrors Of war Mr.. Jerome
includes the verse and some of the plays. lie is
planning tour of readings in the United States
and Canada but it was evident TO the interviewer
that he would be elsewhere if the age limit OF the
recruiting Office had permitted him to enlist.
One question was all that was needed to start
him on a discussion of the present situation-and
the question itself seemed to surprise him. When
asked if he could explain the apparent apathy Of
the young men in regard to the war, shown by
their unwillingness to join the army, he declared
that no such reluctance had existed and that
America had been given entirely false impress
sion this point.
"The war has done away with the frivolous side
of English life" said Mr. Jerome. "The fat man
who has lived for the Savoy dinner has betaken
himself elsewhere. If he has hair on his head
and is well preserved he has gone to the recruit
ing sergeant and has given in his age as thirty
five. Birth certificates not required and the
number of men of military age who are now in
England is remarkable to an extreme degree.
chance of my serving No men would be left in
their vacations if they could fight. The newspa-
pers would shut down. The plays would not be
written. 1t is too bad that the newspapers have
given out the impression that there has been any
trouble in securing men for the army The ye!
low journalists and those with no intention OF
going themselves have been particularly severe
upon the young of the country, who were
standing in line before the recruiting Offices at
the very time that the articles criticisng them
were being written.
"You may rest assured that there is slow
ness in recruiting in England and that the coun-
try is fully awake to what confronts her. At first
there apparent slackness within the Offices
themselves The recruiting Offices were the only
hIngs which were caught unprepared. There
not doctors enough to make the physical OK
amnatons The officers had expected from 400
to 500 recruits day. and they received from
1000 to 5000 Men stood in line before the offices
from o'clock in the morning to o'clock in the
afternoon and have repeated this experience Cor
days running.
when recruiting commenced there idea
Of the rush that would take place. Men gave up
their positions and wandered through the couE-
try from Office to Office, seeking TO force them
selves into the war. They without resources
because the 81 week of the army had not yet
been advanced to them, and they were unable TO
approach the army on account of the waiting sp-
plicants When they were turned away for lack
of room they went back to their homes believing
that after all the country did not need them.
When it was learned that they were still re-
qured they returned to the recruiting Offices.
"You cannot take an automobile drive withou.
being halted for the passage of marching men.
You cannot go into the parks without seeing them
drilling by thousands. Some have received no
uniforms yet. and all the military equipment
that others have TO show their knckerbockers
and puttees ! visited a motor factory some
weeks ago and wandered about in a deserted
building. A young fellow finally told me that of
two hundred who had been employed there
only eleven remained had visited this factory
TO have some repairs made on my automobile, but