The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-03-08
British Tommy Not Satisfied on
Return to "Civies."
Little Doubt England Will
!. Raise 100000 Men Needed.
INDUSTRY IN An UpHEAVAL
Lack of Work One Reason for
= the Many establishments.
Soldiers Also Miss Companion.
ship Afforded by Khaki.

Correspondence Of the Associated Press.)
London, Feb. 15.-ThousandS of
the British army who recently be-
came so war weary that they openly
threatened mutiny unless they were
discharged, have turned about face
and are volunteering for the new
army, according to the military au-
thorities, who assert that they are
satisfied that there will be 4ittle diff
ficulty in securing the 100000 men
who will do Great Britain's share in
safeguarding the peace the allies have
won.
The causes said to have sent the
men floating back to the colors are
the Unexpectedly large war bonus Of
acute industrial situation. The first
factor has been of prime Importance
in the case of boys from Is to 81,
who have been two or more years
already in the army and who have no
trade to fall back upon in civilian
life. In the new army they will be
fed, clothed and sheltered and draw
a minimum of about SIS a week as
pocket money. They have quickly
awakened to the realization that there
is no such prospect awaiting them on
a return to "civies.''
Industry in Upheaval.
The industrial upheaval plays the
main part in the decision of, the older
men. In the first rush for demobili-
zation no man was permitted to go
who had not a definite offer of en-
ployment. The government did all
in its power to make certain that
such offers were bona-fide, but in
spite OF every pre- caution thousands
of men got their release on bogus
papers. These men sure found them
selves in an unenviable position. They
could not get work and they faced
some very uncomfortable inquiries if
they applied for the out-of-work pay
provided for those who are idle thru
no fault of their own. The recruiting
sergeant was an easy road out of their
troubles and that astute Individual
| who draws bonus for each recruit.
was not blind to his opportunities.
A third factor of minor but real
| Importance is the fact that numbers
| of men who have been home on lib
eral leave since the armistice was
| signed have discovered that they are
not nearly SO happy out of khaki as
| they imagined they would be. They
| frankly admit that they miss the COM
partnership of the army, the lack of
responsibility and the easy hours
Now that the war is over the army
! is resting on it's laurels and in the
| great camps around England work
is confined to one hours parade a
day, with football games, paper chases
and other sports to fill in the re-
| mainder Of the time. That is a con-
siderable contrast to eight or nine
hours of monotonous toll in g. shop
or factory.
Boys Are Re-enlisting.
The army authorities have not so
| far made public any figures on re-
cruiting, but some indication is Of
| fered by the experience of two bat
talions in one of the largest camps
| in the south of England. In one
unit, where all the men had seen serv-
| ice overseas, more than 200 re-enlist-
| ed in less than two weeks. In the
other, an "A4" battalion made up of
| 800 took the oath in the same period
a large number for the regulation
| period of twelve years.