THE CALL FOR MEN.

Mataura Ensign, 12 February 1916, Page 5

THE CALL FOR MEN.

A BOY'S ANSWER. REASONS WHY HK ENLISTED. Air A. H. Sainshury, of P.nrgess Street, Swayihling, Southampton, hareoe.ved iho fol owing letter from his son in ('anada :-—• Weston, Ontaria. Canadi. Dear Dad,.— I am writing to yon tonight principally to get your permission to join the Army. There is no doubt that a lot more men will be wanted, and dad, if it is not your son tint goes somebody else's -mi has to go, and ! might, .ili-—t as well do my share towarddefending my old home and parents as let somebody else do it lor me. while 1 hang behind like a frightened and cowardly fel'ow. | simply hate to receive letters from my old mates in India and in France who are helping to deiend mv old homo, while 1 stay right here and enjoy myself. I don't "sunpose mother will like this proposition, hut many mothers and fathers all over the Rritish Fmpire have had the stme trouble. Of course, you believe that it is in many ca>os a ease of a Christian shooting a brother Christian; but. dad, think of ibis, where would you a 1 be if these •'brother Chrisii m-!'" got a hold of you—your home, your wile, inr j mother and my brothers and si-ter-!-j Do you think- that those (leitnan- wi.uld have any more pity on you and vonrs j than they had on those poor Belgian j and French womeu folk and chidivn? No. So it's up to sonic of tr- to keep I them back, and if 1 don't go. then it i- I so it)lit hj to my dishonor and the s'imc to whoever keeps me back. Weil. dad. this may be a mo-t disagreeable letter to you and mum but try to lock at ; r as a man and ; i home defender should. There are lots of other parents wh> have coiKjiiered the dread, ami liMier let a young tellow 'ike myself go than a married man with a family. A <|uick reply in the affirmative will put my mind at re-t.—Your most ; ifleetiona ,e son. \Yill w fhe writer of the above letter i- only 17 years old. He lm~ lieen in Can <]i .just over a yar. work tig with bis uncle as a plumber. Hi- lather in forwarding us (the 'Hampshire A'lver'iser') his letter, iuloi'iiis us that he fenlurond of the boy. and his given hj m pernns-ion to join the Army. .He hoeethe letter may he the means of helping) on recruiting.