Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-01-25
ENGLAND'S RECRUITING CAMPAIGN
FREDERIC J. HAsIxIS,

Have YOU a rcason--or only an ex-
cuse" That is the question. in letters
q foot high. staring down from the
walls of London at tho uncnlisted men
below. England alone among the bat
Ting nations faces the necessity of
cnlstinG her army. Her recruiting
campaign has been the most colossal
in history, and the food OF posters
and handbills she uses are one OF it's
most important means. They exhaust
every resource OF ingenuity In stylo
and wording: they appeal skillfully to
every emotion.
The appeal Is directed as much TO
the women AZ to the men. The men
hang back on your account" says one
OF the posters. Wont you persuade
them TO go?' and DO you realize that
the ono word. CO. may send man to
the 'front.' The women are urged
that by holding back husband or son
or brother. they place n brand OF dis
! grace on the loved one that he will
carry 20 the end OF his days Women
OF Britain, say CO." is the continual
refrain OF the posters.
They play on the chords OF every
human sentiment. these naring red and
green and blue appeals. The note OF
shame. OF the disgrace that will cling
TO the shirker. perhaps. is sounded
more often than any other. The big
pictorial sheets concern themselves
largely with this. There is one four
feet high, fne piece or drawing. that
shows father sitting before his
hearth With two little boys on his
knee. Father, where did you serve
in the war;" they ask, and the man
hides his face In his hands
Posters to shame shirker..
Another spirited sketch shows typi-
cal trench scene. What are you doing
in London" queries the poster accus-
ingly. You are proud OF your pals in
the trenches" says another. but what
do your pals think of YOU" There IS
a picture OF the men IN khaki march
. ing proudly by. and a nondescr!pt
crowd gaping Mt their heels The
crowd or the which, no ma
who is worthy OF the name will hang
back II he is 1T TO go" SAY the posi-, :
ers There nre three types of men:
those who hear the call and obey:
those who delay, and the others -
Truly, these must be uncomfortable
days for the others
But there is a class OF men, indepcn-
dent and hard-headed, who would re-
main unmoved by the worlds opinion
II they did not conceive IL their duty to
20 10 the front. For these there is a
special line Of appeal. What would
happen to the empire II every man
stayed home? Stares down at them
from London walls. Ana the trenches
send a call. Come over hcre-vo,i're
wanted" A big lithograph shows a
line Of khaki figures at attention.
There is n single gap in the rank. con-
spicuous as single sail AT sea 1t ia
some ones duty to I'LL the gap. "Do
your bit" the poster has H.
Closely allied TO the appeal 10 duty
is the patriotic appeal, a strain sound :
cd in a dozen dneren, keys There
are posters that are exact facsimiles
in size. shape anil color OF the Union
Jack. Flight for the dear old flag
runs the legend Boys. he British.
Enlist now" Song sheets bearing the
national airs are distributed widely,
and on them an occasional American
may note that Three Cheers for the
Red. White and Blue" is sung as a
british national hymn with Britannia
substituted for Columbia.
Appeals to Vengeance.
Those who are stirred neither by
calls TO patriotism, shame nor sense of
! duty. the recruiters attempt 10 bring
forward by awakening the spirit OF re-
vcngc After the Scarborough Zeppc-
! lin raids the biggest posters OF all
/ great three sheet affairs nine feet
high. We're put M. and the recruiting
! offices for time had u rush Of volun-
/ tcers There H. some attempt to make
/ 'Remembcr the l.usiiania" catch
! word like our own Remember the
! Maine"
Another angle the posters take is
( an appeal to the primitive martial
spirit. pure ana simple. "Yc Gallant
Sons Of Wales to Arms" is such q
one. Another is 4 picture Of n Bel
I eian battalion. "Wnl You Fight for
( britain as They Fight for Belgium?
/ you're Wanted, Sonny" runs ore
I Rhythmic Invocation. There's Gar
| in the Line That Needs Filling; All
| over England the Ruplcs are Sound
/ ing. Fail In" Tho Boys at the Front
4 are Wondering When You Will Come
+ one poster bears The picture of a
wcll-lovcd general who fell in action
! "iIc Did His Duty: VIII You po
/ Yours
Literary England is represented in
! the campaign by numerous quotations
OF martial application taken from
| Shakespeare down. Current war poe
| try is circulated on handhills. Men
| who cannot enlist themselves on ac-
count OF age or physical disability are
| urged TO bring forward another re-
| cruit AS Il last resort. ii is pointed
! out that 1t is far better to come for
ward voluntarily than to adopt an at
| titudc which will force CONSUMPTION
: The conscript will have to take al
the chances Of war: his pay will II,
less: i'm place Of honor he will have
only shame; instead OF a welcome fron
| tho boys in the trenches he will be
! received with cold contempt. do yo,
think YOU will get the same trent
ment?" Gas the men who vount eercdI
says one lennet. Not n bit OF It, You
won't deHcrve It,"
EpiErammntic CatchwOrds.
long list Of more -r less epigram-
| matte catchwords has been evolved