Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-11-14
VOLUNTEER PLAN
IS DISAPPOINTING
Failure of Recruiting Campaign
in Great Britain Generally
Conceded.
CENSORSHIP Is BLAMED
Critics Say Men Do Not Realize
How Badly They Are
Needed
CENSORSHIP IS BLAMED

LONDON. November l3.-The days OF
grace granted for the purpose of maxi
ing an ultimate test of the present sys-
TEN Of recruiting are rapidly nearing
their end. and the result is longer
in doubt-it is absolutely impossible to
hnd in the United Kingdom tho enor-
nous number Of men needed to satisfy
| the demands Of Lord Kitchener In this
manner. y.
No one thinks of blaming Lord
Derby for his probable failure for, al
| thought he was quoted as saying be-
| fore lie took up his new duties that he
was well aware he had been appointed
| general manager of a bankrupt con-
| Germ, he has made most strenuous eff
| forts 10 accomplish what the antagon-
! lists of CONSUMPTION expected from him.
His canvassers have gone through
tho entire kingdom with a fine tooth
comb. they have most conscientiously
followed their instructions, which or
dered them to use the strongest kind
OF persuasion without resorting to
bullying. but the number OF recruits
they have gathered in falls far below
even modest expectations.
DISAPPEAR At STRAINS
OF RECRUITING BANDS
AS matter OF fact, any one who
has seen how swiftly all young men
saunterng up and down the streets of
London disappear the moment they
hear the strains OF recruiting band
approaching and how studiously they
avoid going near the plinth OF the Mel.
son Monument in Trafais;.t Square ald
other places where recruiting speeches
are made by soldiers home on leave
| from the front must have known he
forehand that all the young men hero
who had any intention of exposing
their lives to German bullets were
already in khaki.
| stun, official statistics leave abso-
lutely no doubt that far more than the
number OF young men required mt pres
ent. are here. But they will not defend
! their country unless they are COM
PEELED to do So
| Naturally this Is n very bitter pill
for British national pride to swallow.
and II is not surprising that n more
iattering explanation is sought for A
suitable scapegoat has been quickly
found In the press censorship. which
stands accused from all sides OF having
willfully fostered spirit of optimism
I
of men OF military age to believe that
| they could not be wanted, as things
We're evidently going very we'll
! This explanation. however does not
| place the intelligence OF the average
| l:nGlishman in very nattering light,
| but one must suppose that the English
would rather be under the suspicion
of being duh than OF lacking In cour-
age.
| 1t may now be considered almost
settled that we are TO have conscrip-
| ton in some form. unless timely
| Zeppelin happens to drop Il bomb on
| Westminster Abbey, buckingham PAL
ace or Windsor. causing a general out
| burst OF indignation and rush to the
| recruiting offices.
LLOYD GEORGES wORI<
HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL
| Lloyd George, on the other hand, has
been far more successful in his en-
dearor to raise the required number
! or munition workers. and the only diff
hculty he has had to contend with has
been local friction with labor unions
The number OF ammunition workers
now exceeds 100000 Undoubtedly.
the navy absorhs to a great extent tho
activity or this immense army of work
&C. nc monte meet, winch. without
striking single blow OF any masni-
tude immobiliZed the fleet OF the
Kaiser from the very beginning OF the
war. needs the work of hundreds of
thousands OF men 10 keep it in a con-
slant state of the highest efficiency.
The supply of munitions for tho
British armies is now said to he ample
About 1000 factories all over the coun-
try are now busy night and day turn
ing OUT rifles, machine guns cannon.
smells. hand Erenades. motor lorrles.
aeroplaneS and hrdroplanes, and every
thing is running very smoothly
The effects of the war. however. arc
beginning TO be felt very keenly, and
worse is 10 be expected when the new
income tax comes into operation. The
price OF practically all necessaries OF
living has gone up. and il may be safe
~ estimated that it costs about 40 per
cent more to live in London than Ii
ana twelve months ago. IL is poor con-
! ISOLATION TO be told that the people in
berlin and Vienna are much worse OF
There is considerable i'll feeling
, against the Chancellor of the Ex-
cheauer because, so far, he has shown
no inclination 10 remedy the elarine
! injustice or his income tax proposals
under which the rich. whose income il
$4,000 year. lind their tax increased
only by - per cent, while the $50. 900
families in receipt or between $500 and
10000 year Will have their payments