RECRUITING.

Otautau Standard and Wallace County Chronicle, Volume XI, Issue 524, 1 June 1915, Page 5

RECRUITING.

The grimness of the struggle m the Great War is more and more impressing itself on the mind of Britain. Tho' Empire has always managed to " pull .through " m all her conflicts m practically every part of the world, and the ordinary Britisher early m the present war complacently consoled himself m the same way, " Oh, we'll pull through." The pulling through is the toughest problem tho Empire has ever faced, and has had unlookcd for' developments. Since 1832, England has had. distinctive parties in 'the House of Parliament, parties admittedly widely separated m their ideala and the basis of their actions. These parties have had to set aside their differences, sink all their personal jealousies, and combine for the defence of the Empire. Nothing else counts, it is the utmost for the preservation of our liberty. In plenitude, awaj' 'from the sounds of guns and from the awful spectacle of devastation and death, we on this outpost of the Empire have not yet wakened up to the dire, need of straining every nerve to help. The casualties to our own troops m the Dardanelles are certainly now awakening New Zealand to its responsibilities. The gravity of the position not only arises from the depletion of the ranks m killed and wounded among" the land forces, but mere especially from the presence ofronemy submarines m tho Gulf of Saros. Tho presence of these sea raiders may alter the whole course of the war m Turkey. The "iQueen. Elizabeth" has played probably the most important part m the subjugation of Gallipoli, and it is hardly likely the Admiralty will accept the risk of vessels of her class being torpedoed by a stray subr marine. The withdrawal* of ships of her class would leave the work of the land forces infinitely more difficult. "To meet any such contingency, more arid still more soldiers must be available. After 10 months' fighting, the armies of the Allies can scarcely yet claim they are' getting «the best of the fight against Germany and Austi'ia m any one front of the great battle. Thousands, endless thousands of men must be poured into the field to crush the strength of the organised forces of Prussian militarism, as it is impossible for only a limited number to maintain the strain. Something like 1 m 40 of the population of New Zealand only has so far enlisted ; this is only One-fourth of what the Old Land is doing. The services of the strongest Imperialist and most far-seeing statesman m New Zealand are lost at the present juncture to our country through the party jealousy m politics, Undoubtedly Sir Joseph Ward should bo m tne Council of the country at tho present time, and his ripe experience would be of great value m our affairs. Every young mau who is fit should volunteer. Many young fellows have volunteered, who through £some very slight defect have not been accepted, and theoe feel keenly being kept out of doing their share. Not to volunteer will shortly be looked upon as a disgrace on the part of young men wty> are fit, and who are uot absolutely required by domestic ties to -re main iv New 1 Zealand^ At a recent sendoff to four young fellows from Waianiwa, Mr D. Macpherson, one of the volunteers, modestly and probably quite 'unwittingly, gave somo of the best reasons that have yet been put forward for enlisting. Here are his words : — " I'm glad I enlisted. I am glad I have got these three other chaps as mates. We will get on fine together. Look here, only three things can, happen to you. You may die for your country, you may get wounded, or you may return home safely. If you are killed — well, it happens all at once, and you don't feel anything, and besides it's an honourable death. If you got wounded, you are that happy that you are not killed that you are keen to get right to start again, and if you come home, —think of the great welcome you will get !"