The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1917-04-27
VOLUNTEER PLAN
PROVED FAILURE
COST MANY LIVES IN ENGLAND
AND WORKED UNTOLD HARD
SHIPS ON CITIZENS.
BRIDGES GIVES HIS VIEWS
say British Democracy Has Become
Almost Fanatical' Over Uni
ycrsal Service.

Washington. April 24.-Lieuten-
ant General Bridges, member OF
the British Commission. declared
here today, in talk with newspaper
correspondents. that the British
democracy had become, almost fan
atical'' over universal militsy ser
vice. The volunteer system under
which the empire entered the war,
General Bridges said. has cost thu
lives OF the most valuable citizens.
crippled industrial mobilization and
immca surably set back England's
efforts in the war.
War" said General Bridges, ''is
no longer war OF expeditions, but
is case of nation against nation.
Men, women and children are equally
drawn into its vortex, the women and
children being forced into industry
supply the men at the front. War has
become an immensely democratic
business and needs the full effort OF
every member OF the community. di-
rected along the lines most necessary
to be served"
General Bridges, while unwilling
TO be drawn into discussion of
specific American questions, talked
most freely of the difficulties which
had beset England when. at the be-
ginning of the war, she converted
herself from peace to war basis,
and began the immense Increase OF
her army from a small force to one
OF the largest in Europe.
The source of our greatest diff
Guilty" said General Bridges, was
the sending to Europe OF practically
our whole trained army as an expe-
dictionary force. This robbed US OF all
training officers for our new armies,
ami IL was only through returned
wounded officers and tho withdrawal
~ others that we were able to buiid
the skeleton Tor our new forces. AT
TIE same time we allowed most of
our class youths, university men in
many eases, 10 enter Che ranks. which
withdrew them from the officers
class and placed that responsibility
on far less well-equipped persons.
The wastage of The best blood of the
nation was enormous.
View Ia England.
IT is my opinion that il it had
not been for Kitcheners immense
personality we should have had con-
acription within a few months, II
ord Roberts proposal tor universal
-.rvice had been enforced we should
nave saved enormously, not only in
lien but in industrial efficiency, The
eat majority of army officers would
nave done anything to have cotton
rid of the volunteer system with
which the country was at first sad
died"
Gen. Bridges estimated eight
months as the necessary time TO
train a division. Individual recruits,
However, may be made fit 10 so 10
,ao trent in a short space Of eleven
weeks, provided they are distTihut-
-d IN proportions of hity among Two
hundred trained men. war service
IS &c least FIVE times rs valuable o
frauing as peace service, he estimate
ml.
Artillery must De fra great pre-.
roudrance," Gen Bridges said, "hs-
tn., am attack can ra eav-,ei The
..lel however is sUu essential
.1 H0aliy rout ia. cuomy from tEe
...ches ! shoulJ estimate tAat thc
present successes on tac Western
mont ere due 10 q British prepond-
GRANGE over the German ARTILLERY Of
at least three or four To ONE There
rs absolutely no doubt as 10 the out
come OF The war; the only question
Is as 80 is lenPth."
Gen. Bridges commented briefly
on the difficulties OF making good