The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. THURSDAY, JULY 16, 1914. BRITAIN’S HOME DEFENCE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 72, 16 July 1914, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. THURSDAY, JULY 16, 1914. BRITAIN’S HOME DEFENCE.

Voluntary enlistment in the British Army has fallen off very seriously of late years, the shortage in 1912 being , 3077, while in 1913 it has increased 8580. The latest statement regarding the matter is that there has been a deficit of twenty thousand recruits during the past five years, and the Government is being blamed for not taking steps to remedy this great falling off. Those who advocate compulsory military service will find support for their views in this gradually diminishing strength of Britain’s land defence force, particularly with the ever-growing armies of Europe before them. Germany claims to have a peace establishment of 870,000 of all ranks in her army, while reserves will increase annually until they number over 5,000,000 fully trained men, ready on short notice to take the field. Austria, Italy, France and Russia have all greatly increased their military “peace” strength, and Britain alone is falling behind in this struggle for place in armaments. It has been said that England has lost beyond recall her old-time supremacy at sea against any probable combination, while the failure of her people at home to train themselves to arms ties the navy to her shores, endangers her oversea dominions, and fetters the freedom of her strategy. The training of a citizen army must come if Britain is to stand untouched and continue to hold her high place among the nations.