Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-01-07
PLAN HURT
BY LACK OF DOCTORS
Earl of Derby Issues State
ment Regarding Recent
Campaign.
iBv Associated Press

LONDON. Jan. 4-(Delayed THE OPP
Grafton of the governments recruiting
plan was handicapped and delayed by the
impossibility of obtaining a sufficient
number of medical examiners and ex-
perienced clerks, says Lord Derby to-
day i'm a report answering criticism or
Inadequate arrangements during the alb
normal flow of recruits at the eleventh
hour. Hence while gross numbers are
available up TO the end of the
period. December Fl. details of
groups are forthcoming only up TO Nov
ember 80 before the tremendous rush
began.
In the latter days of the canvass. says
Lord Derby, especially in country dis
tricts. the starred lists proved unsatis-
factory and recruits were incorrectly
described. This will call for further
Investigation.
Lord Derby declares the canvass
shows that il is not lack of courage
which keeps men from enlisting. Many
who are willing to so ind themselves
Barred by domestic, financial and bust
ness obligations and by the inadequacy
Of the separation allowances. This APP
plies especially TO professional and com
mercial men.
The total number of men ready to
bear arms obtained from enlistments for
the period between October % and De-
cember 15 is estimated in Lord Derby
report at 1.046.493. After deductions
from the total number of attested men
for the various classes indispensable for
civil occupations the numbers availa-
bic for military service are 343,3S6 sim
gle men and 4S7.676 married. Adding
those who enlisted for immediate serv-
ice gives a total ready to bear arms Of
446,3S6 single and SOC, 107 married.
REPORT ON CAMPAIGN,
The Earl of Derby's report on his re-
cruiting campaign explains why the
cabinet found ii necessary to bring for
ward a measure for compulsory service.
There are $4,000 unmarried men who
failed TO come forward and the govern
ment will now attempt to redeem Pre-
mier Asquith's pledge that the married
men should not be called out as long as
any considerable fraction of unmarried
men held back. In his report, the Earl
OF Derby says:
Many difficulties have been met with,
but the chief difficulty has been the I'M
reliability of starring, as distinguishing
between those who should and those who
should not be taken for the army. In
stead of starring being an assistance it
has been a distinct hindrance to the can
vass.
More especially is this so in the rural
that It was known before registration
day what branches Of the agricultural in
dustry would be starred, with the result
that many men who had no right to do so
claimed to come under these particular
headings. The sense Of unfairness thus
created and the inequality of treatment,
TO farmers has been most detrimental In
these areas. The farmer himself is not
a starred man, but there are numberless
U-Nll hair o
starred as cowmen, horsemen, etc.,
though in many instances 1t is known
they are not really so engaged.
ANOTHER OBSTACLE.
Another obstacle to recruiting has
been the unequal treatment of individ-
nails Parents and relatives, especially,
cannot understand why their sons, hus-
bands, or brothers should join while
Other young men hold back, and secure
lucrative employment at home. Apart
from the number of men who have act
ualIy enlisted and attested there are
many who have promised to enlist when
so and so has also promised to 60.
There may of course be numbers of men
who make this answer as an excuse. But
that il is genuine in very large num-
Der of cases and is accumulated by pad
starring there is no reason TO doubt.
THE canvass shows very distinctly
that IL is not want of courage that Is
keeping men back, nor is there the
slightest sign but that the country as
whole is determined to support the
prime minister in his pledge made at the
Guild hall on November 8. 1914, (regard-
ing the calling out of married mem, as
il was when that pledge was made.
There is an abundance of evidence OF
determination to see the war through
m a successful conclusion.
(Signed) DERBY.