KITCHENER APPEALS TO THE NATION

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2511, 12 July 1915, Page 5

KITCHENER APPEALS TO THE NATION

, . MEN,\ MATERIAL, AND MONEY BRITAIN'S SOLEMN HOUR IS STRIKING % - Bs) Telegraph—Press A£6ooia.tion-OopjTig}it _~ „ , „ „ London, July 9. ~ Lord Kitchener, Secretary of State for War, addressing a recruiting meeting, said that he was glad of the Lord Mayor's invitation to -attend at the Guildhall ahd make another and larger demand upon the resources of English • . manhood."Our thoughts,";he!said, "are naturally''.■turned- to . the splendid efforts of the Dominions,/who have throughout ranged themselves ; beside the Motherland, v The Indian'armies were really the first in tho, field. '■ The Canadians closely followed them, and aro now associated with their' Anglo-French comrades in Flanders, : presenting: a'., solid -and impenetrable; front. The Australians and New Zealanders, eombined with the Anglo-French in the Dardanelles, have already aiccomplished a feat of arms almost unexampled for: brilliance, and are pushing tho campaign, to a successful ".conclusion: In each of the , great Dominions new large contingents are preparing. South Africa is not con- ' tent w-ith the successful accomplishment of her arduous'campaign in SouthWest Africa; but is now offering large forces-for Europe. ,Te tho utmost Limits." ' "Britain, while strengthened by the unflinching " support of her fellow-citi- . - zens oversea, seess .to, develop her-own: military resources to the utmost limits. 1 The vital is more, and still more, men. The situation in this respect is immeasurably, better than ten months .ago, but the position to-day is at least as : serious as then. Napoleon has isaid that three necessaries of war are 'money Dioney, money'; our 'greaitpst heeds of the moment ivero men, material, and marked success of the war. loan -is due to its. favourable reception in the City. The energetic efforts of the new Munitions' Department are'overcoming the difficulties of supplies." He (Lord Kitchener) had .taken up office as a soldier, not as a politician. He had early warned tlio country that it was a certainty that, the war would bo arduous and. prolonged, and ho was of the , same opinion now. ■'Enemy Prepared for Forty Years. ~ n "Tho thorough preparedness of tho Germans' was due. to their strenuous, high-pressuio, and unremitting, efforts during forty years, which was shown in organisation, as complex as it was porfoct; ' Elaborately organ-' ised for imposing Germany's will upon other nations, her vast resources and military strength were wielded by .an autocracy, peculiarly adapted to the conduct of war. Her long' instantaneous use to be made of . the whole of her resources. . , _ policy," ho said, "is to gradually increase our effectives. It has been truly ;said that Germany must decrease and we must' increase." The voluntary system was the nationV deliberate choice, and necessitated an army in peace time of slender; dimensions .with a capacity for potential expansion. ■ ■.yx le ?r. I) 5011 time being allowed to increase our armies during .hostilities. Our military . situation -in August last was, therefore, normal, but it then became an immediate task for the ; concurrent dispatch of our . first fcxpeaitionar.v iorce and the raising of new armies to provide a strong, steady stream _of roinforcements and maintain the, army in . the field at full fighting Strength. .There had been a satisfactory and constant flow of recruits. ■ Unrestricted Call for Men. ' . ','1 believe the recent slackening in the recruiting has been largely due to temporary influences.'! It, was difficult to exaggerate tho value of the response to his previous appeals; lie would now make ,another appeal for volunteers to come forward and. defend the. country. He was unwilling .to ask for men in excess of the equipment available, ,but happily the limitations in regard to material had been surmounted. There was.sufficient arms and clothing to convert all recruits into efficieint soldiers; therefore lie made an unrestricted call for'men. The larger the-Army, the greater the need for overswolling its niimhers, in order to maintain it at its..full, strength. Something more was now required to ensure tlie enlistment of a large reservo, which was imperative!v needed. . . ~ J- ■ ■ "The gallant soldiers in- the fighting line are beckoning with an urgency Which -was both, imperious and Bathetic. They aro urging the homcstayers to oomo out and play their part. Therefore, we must go a step- further and attract those who from various, causes, have not yielded to their patriotic impulses. National registration,, when completed, will enable me to note tho ipen - between nineteen and forty years of age who are not required for making munitions, and for other necessary work.; Steps will be taken to secure the enlistment of all possible, firstly, from the unmarried men. The work of registration will occupy some weeks: meantime,'-it is paramount that as many as possible should join, and-expedite the training." - ■, /' Reasons for Secrccy. \ He appealed to tlie employers to release all men qualified for service replaoing them ivith ineligible® and women. Lack 'of encouragement on the'part of some of the employers would dissuado many who dared not risk their bread and butter. It was inexpedient to shout abroad the numbers likely to -be required, : because the figures would prove useful to'the enemy. He had often been urged; to afford greater information as to the whereabouts of regiments. This would be of precise value to the enemy. A German prince in a high command had ruefully admitted his complete ignorance of our new armies. The casualty lists , sufficiently indicated the'needs-at the front. A largo percentage of men suffering from comparatively slight wounds would soon, return'to the firing line.. | , Referring to sliirlprs, Lord Kitchener isaid that probably the absolute .'do-nothings , fewer than was conimonly supposed, but 'he wished that those engaged in patriotic work would ask themselves the question whether they had a real reason for not joining. He thought that many who becamo special constables were qualified for. higher .service*'-

"Your Supreme Hour!" . Some men said that they did not see why thoy. should go until fetched. "Gianted that legally you need not go if,you choose," Lord Kitchener added, "but is it not morally tip to you? Will you do your duty only when the lawsays you must? It is a matter for your conscienco. Make up your minds quickly." • . , "In every man's lifo there is a supreme hour, towards which all earlier experiences mo to, from which all future results aro rcckoncd. That solemn hour is striking l'or overy Briton. Let us heed the opportunity. now or nover; shirk nothing, shrink from nothing, lend our full weight to the impetus which shall carry us to victory in the cause of our 'honour and freedom." Vast crowds accorded Lord .Kitchener an ovation as he proceeded through the streets to tho Guildhall. Many Cabinet Ministers anil leading politici ins' were on the platform. | THE BILL FOR NATIONAL REGISTRATION j, ; GOVERNMENT'S STAND' ON COMPULSORY ■ SERVICE.. ' I London, July, 9. Mr. W. H. Long (President of the Local Government Board), speaking at a conference of local authorities, said that some people believed tlio Govern-ment's-hands were'tied with regard to. compulsory service by Mr. Asquith's answer to Mr. Percy. Aldon in the House on July 5, but that was not so — tho Registration Bill stood or foil by itself. Mr. Asquith was the last person to say anything hi tho present situation which would prevent the Government from adopting compulsory service if it were necessary to terminate the war. The Government's bauds were absolutely free. Mr. Long added thai he would not i'emain in the Ministry if it Jiesitated to adopt any necessary measures. (Mr. Percy Allen asked whether the registration. foreshadowed forced labour and conscription. Mr. Asquith icplied that no such change was contemplated., The voluntary enrolment of workers was highly satisfactory, but that did not affect the necessity for' national registration.) ("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.) , .In!, the House of Commons, Mr. W.. H. Long (President of the Local Government Board) stated that the. first published draft of the Registration Bill was confined to information got by.'tno Press, resulting in the indignant demands from women in all parts of the country to "be included. In answer to a request to mate the age limit fifty-five, .Mr.' Long stated that lie had received numberless angry letter of protest- from. m6n over sixtyfive years of age becausb they, had 1 been [refused the privilege of serving the ' State. J'MEN! .WITHOUT 'K GENIUS' FOR WAR.'-''" " .By Telegraph—Press Association—Goayririt . . ; London, July 9. Colonel Repmgton, the "Times" military correspondent, 6tates that owing to the failure to secure an adequate supply of munitions,' millions of British and Russians, who aro available to fight, are not. in the firing lino. Russia is being invaded, and the Allied' offensive in the West is paralysed. "It is an administrative failure from first to last. Tho errors of the late Cabinet have proved them to;be men without a foriwar. Most of these men remain . •in office, heaven alone, knows why!, Everywhere else blunderers have beenremoved."; ■'. ■■ '• . ' > .CANADA'S EFFORT .(INCREASED. TO 150,000.; The High Commissioner reports:— , . ' . . London, July 9, 6.35 a.mv Tlio Canadian Expeditionary Forces being increased-to 150,000. • ' (Rec. July 11, 3.30 p.m.) . London, July 10. Reuter's correspondent lias.interviewed Sir Robert Borden, who expects to remain in Europe for some-weeks conferring with the Government on matters relating'to the war, and visiting the Canadian forces. ;: ; "A. full oral discussion is-essential," he said, "if Canada is to co-operate most effectively "with the Mother Country. While the issue of-the war is not doubtful, the' Empire is facing a task which will fully test bar resourcefulness, self-control, patriotism, and efficiency. ■ *' , , , "As self;goveniiiig_ communities, our resources are. abundant, but lack of preparation is still strikingly apparent. This is convincing evidence that the Empire is menaced. No one, thus unprepared, would confront the most highlyorganised and aggressive military. Power ever known, trained for half a century for the achievement of ; world-wide supremacy by force of arms.. ."The'spirit ofthe Canadian people is expressed l in'their resolve .that tho great sacrifices already made must not be in'vain, iind that this barbarous and-merciless-militarism will no longer overshadow humanity. The great questions touching the status and.constitutional relations of the. Dominions '-.o each other ■will arise after the war;,but it would be idle and undesirable to dwell'on them, at present, when the "supreme issue is our 'oiily concern.'- \ ' MINISTERIAL' CONFERENCE. . * • The High' Commissioner reports:— : ' ' _ •; ' . London, July 9, 9.30 p.m. Mr. 'Asquith (the Prime Minister), the Marquis of Crewe (Lord President of . the Council), Lord Kitchener (Minister of War), aiid Mr. Balfour (First Lord of tlio Admiralty) 'left England on Monday ibv a conference at Calais on Tuesday with M. Vivfani (French Premier), M. Delcasse (French Foreign-Min-ister), ■ ;M.'-MiU'erand (Frencli War Minister)-, M. Augagneur (French Secretary for the Navy), and M. 'A. Thomas (Under-Sccretary for' War), and . .'General Joffre. General Sir John French was also present. Mr. 'Asqujth arid Lord Kitchener afterwards visited the British Headquarters."-'' ' *' \ \ \ .' ' -■ _ .TOUR OF, INSPECTION,' Rec. July-il, 3 p.m.) ■ -• --i-..- London, July 10. Mr. Asquitli and Lord Kitchener visited Sir John French's Headquarters on Tuesday, and toured the British front for two days. They inspected the first and second armies, the Indians; and the Flying Corps, and were specially interested in . the machine-gun schooL ■ i. They met. King Albert of Belgium. Lord KitoHener visited the French troops at Arras, and returned to London in the ,afternoon.