Widnes Examiner. — 1915-05-22 (Widnes, Cheshire, England)

THE WAR ENDED NEXT WEEK.  Lieutenant Williamson said at the outset that more men were wanted to take the places of those who had already received the necessary training and were ready for the Front. The time had come now when every able-bodied man who was not engaged on Government contract work was needed in the Army, and it was the duty of every man up to the age of forty, and forty-five in the case of those who had previously seen service, to offer himself as a recruit. Having read the letter printed at the head of this column, Lieutenant Williamson added that he had also had a letter from Major Crosfield, who said: "We must have all the men we can raise. If the wars were to be over next week, we want the men just the same, so that we shall be in a position to talk—so that we can make our own terms of settlement." Those who wanted to join that night, Lieutenant Williamson proceeded, could go to the Drill Hall, be examined and sworn in and have their uniforms at once, if they weren't too big; he had no uniforms left in stock for big men. A meeting that was held the other night brought in fifty recruits, and that night's meeting would, he hoped, have an equally satisfactory result. Councillor Broadhurst alluded to the prophecies of Major Crosfield, Captain Townroe, himself and others amongst his fellow. working men, that Germany would ride roughshod over this country if the Young men did not rise to the occasion. "I have served 19 years (the sneaker said)—not only with the Warrington Battalion—and I say this, that I stand here a better man for the service I have given." There was not a man in the town who would not benefit by joining the Coloars. He was proud to say that it was entirely owing to the education he had received from the officers and N.C.O.'s of the Volunteers that he stood to-day as a representative of St. Austin's Ward. • Will The Working Man Be Better Off?  He had just been told by a man he had met that no working man would be any better off if the war were brought to a successful conclusion. That was false. In five years' time, unless the 'Germans were defeated, they would be in England, and the British people would have tc pay an indemnity for the whole of the lives Germany had lost, and for the whole of the munitions she had used. Necessities would be taxed to the uttermost farthing. If any man, five years ago, had said that to-day our Territorials would be fighting in tne trenches against the most dastardly military foe the world had ever seen, fighting for dear life against the greatest murderers who ever donned uniform, he would have been met with the retort "Preposterous," as they did when it was said that Germany had warlike intentions towards England. The local Volunteers were met witn jeers and sneers, and called "England's last hope," "Saturday afternoon soldiers" and so on, but they might thank God that the Territorials had shown themselves to be made of such splendid stuff. In conclusion, Councillor Broadhurst said that there was one thing in our favour, at least, 'and that was that truth was our standard. Our cause was holy, and we would fight for it even unto death. Our cause was right, and right was might. Let them, therefore, all acquit themselves like men and verily Britain must win in the fight. (Applause.)