AN OPPOSITE VIEW

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 18, 20 July 1918, Page 4

AN OPPOSITE VIEW

TO THE EDITOR

Sir, —Your editorial article in Wednesday's issue unfortunately fails to convince, as _ being a straight-out reply to the question put by "Common-Sense." Most of your reply, consists of an evasion of the points, such as we are treated to by'many of our politicians and Ministers when the usual deputation calls on them. The only reason one can deduce from your article for not revising our policy is mainly that of sentiment, but sentiment and common-senso do not always coincide. A few months, ago you took the Defence authorities to task for having reduced our reinforcements, and plainly suggested that the reduction emanated here, now yon say we must be governed by the wishes of the Imperial authorities, and that* they are responsible for draining the country of its best manhood. The Imperial authorities do not seem able to dictate to Australia, Canada, or South Africa, how many men they shall send, so the only inference is that our own military autocrats are the real dictators. It certainly would not suit many of our stay-at-homes to let the camps become short of men, for they are enjoying prosperity they never knew before. Nearly twelve months ago the Minister for Defence was forced to admit in the House that we had sent away more men as reinforcements than our promises demanded, and since then many more thousands have gone, whilst our casualties have been comparatively light, so that your sentimental fear that we might fail to be m at the finish need not upset anyone, for' we must have ample reinforcements at Home to carry on for another twelve months at least. Most of your article might aptly be described as camouflage, nothing less.—l am, etc.,