The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-04-16
CONSUMPTION Not Necessary to Dem
onstrate That England's Whole
fieart Is in the War
Nv EDWARD

n the English press as well as In
the newspapers Of the rest Of
the world much has been printed
charging the Briton with unwilling.
ness - serve his country In her time
~ neeH. Lord Derby's name has been
50 constantly and closely associated
with the matter Of legislation govern
ing enlistment that there could he no
doubt that he. of all men. was the per-
son 'sho best could explain the situa-
ton to me.
He is not worried; he feels that az a
non-military nation Great Britain has
done marvels indeed; he believes that
she Ia waking and will presently do
much better even than the now famous
compulsion bill requires.
mo n could be further wrong"
said he when I interviewed him In
London. than the man who nay as
sumo that any part of the British EN-
pire is lacking in patriotism. AS a
matter of fact the proportion Of
strikers under the voluntary service
system was astonishingly small.
ALREADY We have three million
fighting mon in the field. and 1t Ia
estimated that under the group sys-
tenn We shall get 100000 more. That
will give us under the voluntary sys-
tenn $500. 900 men in all.
II think IL not at all unsatisfactory
that nearly four million men out Of a
population like ours should be willing
to GO To- the active defence OF their
country as volunteers, pure and
simple.
Ky the compulsion bill. If we use
the figures generally accepted as most
authentic, We shall get some 900. 900
more men. That is to say that 800 900
men Will he compelled to serve their
country. while $500. 900 are serving IL
voluntarily. So only seven per cent.
OF the eligible men in England. Scot
and and Wales have proved to be un-
ready voluntarily to sacrifice their
time. their home tics. their personal
business interests and to run the very
sharp risk OF losing their lives in the
service of their
ITO me this does not seem to be.
upon the whole. a very d~iscreditable
showing. ! do lot consider this an in
dication of that lack of patriotism
with which our enemies have been
accusing US.
~ slight further analysis Of the fig
ures VIII show tina a large number
even Of the 300 900 men entering the
service under the bill are coming in
Voluntarily without actual compulsiOn.
"They needed the urging If the en-
istencc of the measure to induce them
but ii has been unnecessary in their
Cases tu put the measure into force. I
hope and believe thai in the end 1t vii,
hc shown that in the last analysis few
eligible men will he found 10 have
stood out against service.
$50 | am oppressed 10y no feeling of
disappointment owe lack of patriot
ism in the British people. The more
than three million eligiblcs who al
ready have signified their willingness
u come in 10y such expressions OF
willingness must practically he cred
ited with expressions Of cagerness.
Even the compulsion bill can have
no terrors for married men. for they
are expressly exempted from its provi-
slons. Yet the married men are com
ing in. and began to COM in at the
very start.
81 have not the figures at hand, but
n verr large number Of married mer
have expressed n Ecen desire TO serve
his country in this war. and ofteney
than not this keenness Of the men ha.
been supplemented by eaCerness or
h part Of their wives. So to me il
seems to bc proved that k.nglishmer
are MOI trying to hold back To any eX.
tent which may hc considered AT al
above the proportion normally to III
expected.
"In Truth We have had less trouble
In recruiting than you had. during
YOUR civil war in your norherr
States of America. he certain that
wish To make no invidious compari
sons when I say this. only wish I,
bring the facts to the attention of oul
critics. $ q that they may ponder then
and profit by them.
Il have had much experience Will
actual recruiting, especially in Lanca,
shire. The men of England have re,
spondcd splendidly. | have watched
the work very closely.
Consider Liverpool. for one ex,
ample. In time Of peace it produce,
ten battalions of regulars and volun
teers. Now, in time Of war, wher
men are seriously needed. IL furnishe!
twenty-six battalions. all of volun
tcers. in addition to the large number
Of men who have gone from this coun
Try into the service of their countr,
other thar as soldiers.
II speak with knowledge gained a
scores of recruiting meetings when
say that there rs asst enthusiasm
amonG the crowds of men who ar
present at such gatherings. Some
times II Ia astonishing. No one watch
ing one of them would find any justin
cation in 1t for the criticism which 8,
freely has been made Of British pa
triotism in this war.
1T has been said that women ar
the greatest sufferers from war. evet
though they do no active service. Wei
women are our best recruiting agents
nor do they confine their efforts I
urging service upon other women
husbands and sons. Many a man VIII
may have been n bit doubtful abou
going almost has been thrust into tn
service by his mother, wife, sister o
sweetheart.
ALREADY ! have mentioned the iarG
humber Of married men who are In tn
service, although enlistment IL NJ
legally required o' them. Many %