Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-04-11
Volunteers Needed Now

THOSE Americans who think universal SER
vice Is not necessity in our present
situation and who continue to talk blthely
OF "a million volunteers between sunrise and
sunset should concern themselves very init
mately and actively with the current efforts
to recruit the army. navy and Marine Corps
10 war strength. Rapid success in that enter
prise might go far toward esta blishing the
correctness OF their contention. We don't
say IT would. but it might.
The calls that now resound in every city.
town and hamlet Of the country are for volun-
teers. and a million men are not asked Less
than onc-fourth Of that number. it is prob
able. would suffice to meet the immediate
demand. The service that is to be performed
offers every appeal which can be made to
gallant and adventurous youth In whatever
fighting is done, on land sea, the regular
establishments will have the place of honor
The country can issue no call more I'M
perative than that which has been issued.
The need is. urgent, the opportunity great.
In this war advancement will be found on
the field OF honor, and fitness for this adj
Vancement, when it has been won, can be
acquired best among the soldiers and sailors
who already have learned their trade.
That the War Department just now is not
encoura cling enlstments in the National
Guard must be due to the fact that in the
view of military experts attention should be
concentrated on other branches Of the ser
vice. with this view those who are not mill
tary experts will agree heartily. To man the
ships of the navy which have been held in
reserve and the hundreds of auxiliary craft
which will be pressed into service, 100000
additional men are required at once. The
army needs an equal number to place 1t on a
war footing. The Marine Corps needs 5 900
Or 10000.
Let us turn our attention, so far as is
within our power. TO seeing to it that our
country does not appeal in vain or have to
wait too long. You young men. free OF re-
sponsibilities and fit tor service, consider
we'll If the call Is not addressed to you. and
let your hearts say If YOU should not answer
IT, You older men, who can give only ad-
vice and the promise OF positions held open
and help supplied, see TO it that you are not
forgetting this obligation. You mothers and
sisters and sweethearts, remember the heroic
part your mothers and grandmothers played
when was sounded another call to arms
If there is greater honor in volunteering
than in being drafted-and there is-the time
TO capture this distinction is now. and this
time passes. Compulsory service, unless all
signs fail. will be established within a month.
as 1t ought to be. The first draft will take
Inc pest OF the country's young manhood
Those who volunteer now when the appeal
for volunteers is most earnest and pressing
Will escape even the suggestion that their SER
vice was forced
But above all personal considerations is
the countrys need. Your country needs
you, ran the appeal which Britain made to
her sons In the early days OF the great war
and to this appeal over 100000 men re-
sponded. Shall 1t be said Of America that
she mad difficulty in finding 100000 vol
unteers?