Evening star., 1915-12-11
Great Lines of Men Form Be-
fore British Enlistment
Stations.
LAST DAY FOR ACTION
UNDER DERBY PLAN
As Recruits Assemble and March
Away, But Little Enthusiasm
Is Shown.

LONDON, december 1l.-Ino last
day of the trial period for the Earl of
Derby's recruiting plan opened with
reports from all parts of London to the
effect that there was no dtminution.
but rather an increase in recruiting,
and all officers in charge reported ex-
cellent progress. A feature of the sit
uation is that although single men are
coming forward in better proportion,
married applicants seemed to predomi-
nate in many centers. Nearly all of
the recruiting stations kept. open all
night and until the early hours today.
Similar reports come from many Of the
provincial towns.
The rush of 'Iast-minute men" who
desire to escape the stigma of being
forced to join the colors, ii conscrip-
tion should be adopted, continues.
No Extension of Time.
An announcement that there would be
no extension of the time limit for the
test of the volunteer system apparently
convinced many men of military fitness
that the Earl of Derby was in earnest
and caused them to flock to the sta
tions. The scenes at the recruiting
bureaus are entirely different from
those during Secretary I<itchener's
regime 1t is not a case of inducing
men to enlist as a result of appeals
| made by recruiting sergeants. but
rather of handling the applicants who
wait patiently in long lines, three or
four abreast. in the cold. blustery
weather. At Trafalgar Square only a
small crowd of idlers stood around the
fervid appeals on behalf of king and,
country which were being made by
speakers.
A collection of elderly men. boys, SOL
diers, foreigners and men wearing
khaki armlets listened to the band at
the horse guards parade at Whitehall,
which with martial music was at
tempting to arouse patriotic enthu-
siasm. But in the central recruiting
bureau of the war Office, close at hand.
hundreds of applicants were awaiting
their turn to face the examiners.
Character of Recruits.
A similar lineup extending to the
sidewalks was found at every recruit
ing bureau. About the only difference
to be observed was in the character of
the crowds at the various stations. In
the East End of London the applicants
consisted of laborers and costers, wear
ing caps, with coat collars turned up.
In St PauIs Church yard desk work.
of the city type waited their turn.
Men who evidently were surrenderfng
good positions predominated in the bet
ter residential district, but all the
crowds were marked by the same char
acteristics. All stood quietly, each in
dividual appearing Indifferent to his
neighbor, but nevertheless wearing a
good-natured air. There was no talk
ing, but much smoking by the men in
line, while on the opposite side of the
az he n4
eligibles, or men who already had been
accepted, who watched the others with
an equal silence.
Approach to Demonstration.
The nearest approach to a demon
stration would occur when a. group of
accepted men with an air of elation
would form by fours in the streets for
the first time in their lives and march
away under the direction of a. sergeant,
upon which the applicants in line would
chaff the marchers a bit. and perchance
some of the bystanders would cheer
them. From the appearance of the men
it seemed evident Tat they considered
themselves full-f1edged volunteers,
their quietness being simply their Brit
ish way of doing things.
At the Scotland Yards station the
officials were surprised by the arrival
of 200 civil service clerks.
The new recruits draw heavily upon
the forces of the banks and the insur-
ance and commercial houses. as well as
upon government and municipal de-
partments. The STATS of same of the
banks enlisted in a body on the guar
antee that they would regain their old
positions after the war and receive full
pay during their absence.
Many Younger Men.
Although the majority of those in line
were youths and men in the twenties.
there was a considerable proportion Of
middle-aged men and some obviously
past the limit of forty years
The examining physicians have been
overworked and complaint has been
made of the slowness of the clerks at
the stations, yet 1t is believed that all
the applicants in London can be en-
rolled before the time limit set by Lord
Derby upon his system expires.
FOUR HUNDRED BILLS
IMTR0nlIrEn iM cEMATE