The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-01-06
VOLUNTARY SYSTEM
 FOUND WANTING Lord Kitchener Speaks Be-
 fore House of Lords PLEADS FOR CHANGE CompulsiOn Affects Only Those Who Have Poor Idea of Their Duty.
 Full Provision of Reserves
 Not Being Secured

London, January 5.-The fullest and fairest trial has been given the volun- tary system, declared Field Marshal Earl Kitchener addressing the House of Lords today.
 | We are now asking Parliament to sanction change" said Earl Kitchener, as it has been proved that in the spe- cial circumstances of this unprecedented struggle, the existing system, without ! modification, is not equal to maintaining | the army which is needed to secure v1c- l tory''
 T do not consider the change proposed should be regarded in the light of any derogation of the principle of voluntary service in this country" declared Lord Kitchener, speaking, he said "only as a | solder with single eye to the success | full conduct of the war;.
 1 Compulsion, he added affects during | the period of the war only one class of ! men, those who have but a poor idea of l-their duty as citizens
 ON DEFINITE PLAN Seventeen months ago." said Earl l Kitchener, in beginning his speech, "l stated the broad principles of the mli- tary steps which I considered necessary to meet the emergency of the war. The scheme for augmenting our forces then set on foot was based on a definite plan to secure by successive increases to our military strength an army commen- surate with our power and responsibili- ties, with the proper complement of re- serves and endorsements necessary to keep up it's effective strength in the field during the war
 Further we had to produce for the army thus created, the guns, ammunition and military material requisite to main tain it's fighting value. This scheme had dev eloped under the system of voluntary military service existing in the country
 and this system has given up results far greater than most of us would dared have predicted, certainly beyond any thing our enemies cont teinplated. In the early stages of the war men responded to the call in almost embarrassing tholl- sands and until q few months ago we maintained by steady flow of recruits tile suppy of mer we required in a large nuEabers as we could train and equip them 'The cadres (skelton organization of been formed, it is necessary to keep it up to strength in the field by a constant supply of reserves. replenishing the vast age of war. Recently however the numbers of voluntary recruits ceased to
 ensure the full provision necessary of trained reserves Every effort was made by the Earl of Derby's canvass to repair this deficiency and at the inception of the scheme Premier Asquith, in behalf of the government, gave 2 pledge in the House of Commons regarding military service fo. unmarried men. Ii is now necessary to redeem that pledge in order to maintain the voluntary principle as regards the service of married men in the future
 "So far we have been able to provide for the large increase in the army for it's maintenance on a purely voluntary system and I personally always hoped we should be able to finish the war success fully without changing that system which had done so well, which had given us such splendid material in the field as the soldiers now fighting in the different theatres l do not consider the change proposed should be regarded in the light of any derogation of the principle of voluntary service. It only affects during the period of the war one class of men, amongst whom there undoubtedly are 8 certain number who nave but a poor idea of their duties as citizens and re- quire some persuasion greater than an appeal to bring them to the colors.
 NOT ALL SLACKERS Whilst there are in the class affected some such shirkers, there no doubt are many whose reasons for not joining will be found valid. l am very far from wishing it thought that all those to whom the new proposals will apply can be de- scribed by the term I bave used for some Many of these men have probably conflicting calls upon them and will only be too happy that the government should resolve the doubts which they have been unable to decide for themselves. T speak only as soldier. with single eye to the successful conduct of the war feel sure every one will agree when say that the fullest and fairest trial has been given the system which I found in existence and of which I felt it my
 duty to make the best use. We are now asking Parliament to sanction a change
 as 1t has been proved that in the special circumstances of this utterly unprece- dented struggle the existing system, with out modification. is not equal to main taining the army which is needed to se- cure victory