The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-02-07
EVERY MAN AND
WOMAN I'm GREAT
BRITAIN MUST HELP
Needed to Assure Victory to the Entente
Allies, National Service
Director Declares.

London, Feb. 7.--Director General
Chamberlain's national service scheme
was inaugurated at a meeting yesterday
! in London. Arthur Henderson, labor
leader and minister without portfolio in
the British war council, presided, and
Premier Lloyd George and Mr. Chamber
lain made addresses. Mr.. Henderson
said the labor supply would only be met
when every man and woman not in the
army and navy was employed in some
work OF national Importance.
Mr. Chamberlain said the recent action
OF Germany was interpreted as sign
that she was in a desperate situation,
but that If the allies were to secure
victory and save themselves from the
misery of another winters war it would
be necessary to supply the army with
drafts OF young, physically fit men who
alone could stand the terrific strain Of
modern trench warfare.
Mr.. Chamberlain announced that WON
en- would be enrolled, that arrangements
would be made to utilize the work OF
the clergy, and that doctors would be
modified. Ireland, he said, would be in
cluded in the scheme, but circumstances
in that country made necessary some
notifications. He pointed out that vol
unteers would have to make sacrifices
The first thing to do was to start a
great publicity campaign. Volunteers
would be allotted to occupations for
which they were best fitted by reason
of their past experience, and a mini
mum wage of twenty-five shillings
week would be fixed. Commissioners
would be appointed for agriculture and
the industries who would keep the cen.
trad office informed as to supply and
demand.
The question was, Mr.. Chamberlain
continued, where labor was to be found.
They could not suddenly destroy non-es-
sential trade. Destruction of capital
would interfere with credit The neces-
sary industries, he said, should recu-
perate quickly after the war. They
had no intention of suppressing any
trade, but if labor and material had to
be rationed, the shortage must first fall
on the less essential trades.
Let nobody suppose" Mr.. Chamber
lain continued, that because Count Won
there is nothing else to do. Germany
intends to starye us out before she is
starved out. There is only one answer
this country can make, and that is
blow straight between the eyes which
win beat the enemy down and bring
him to his senses. The national serv-
ice can deal that blow.
The premier urges every man to
place his services and energy at the dis
posal OF the state. The nation must
answer tina threat of Germany at once,
We must build ships to protect our mer-
chandise, in order TO demonstrate that
murder on the high seas is futile. We
can do it, but the nation must be or
ganized. We must organize civilization
to meet organized barbarism. No man
or woman has right to look on whilst
others are struggling for what is equal |
" important for them"
Premier Lloyd George had pointed out,
Mr.. Chamberlain continued, that in pro- |
portion to her population, Great Britain !
mad sent fewer men to the army and 4
navy than any other of the great powers
IF the west. This was not because she (
vas Sinking, but because she was max
ng a larger contribution in other re-
poets. If it was impossible to get neces-
AIRY men by voluntary means the ma
ion must save itself by resorting to
The nation is fighting for its life
dr. Chamberlain went on. at is fight
ne for the life of civilization. That is
tragic reality. The treatment of pris-
ners of war and the civil populations
# Belgium and France, together with
he sinking of harmless merchantmen
t sight, is organized savagery-studied
avagery and the most dangerous form
f barbarism we ever have been called
pom to meet.