THE COLONIST. TUESDAY, APRIL 18, 1916. NATIONAL SERVICE.

Colonist, Volume LVII, Issue 14155, 18 April 1916, Page 4

THE COLONIST. TUESDAY, APRIL 18, 1916. NATIONAL SERVICE.

BmiAi-v is deeply concerned ■ over the question of general military service--the question whether eligible, married men as well'as eligible single men shall' be compelled to serve m the military forces in this period of storm j and stress. The National Government is examining the recruiting figures before making .an announcement on the subject; and both Houses of Parliament are expected to debate the question before the Easter recess. There are many indications thai prominent men in.Britain aro CQnvliu&& ] that the Army, needs more men, Wfi: are in: the throes of a struggle upon, the issue of which our contipued oxisteuce as an Empire depends—a; struggle not of our seeking, and for which we were unprepared. We are allied with other nations, equally attacked, who are. putting forth their full strength in warding off the blows of a mighty assailant, while Britain still has a largo number of men of fighting age upon whose services in the ■ field in her defence thp country has the right to call. Instead of a contingent of 160,000 men that Britain had agreed to send, to 'France if- an attack was made upon her,- Britain has called to the colours over 3,000,000 yolunfceers, who have responded with fervid partriotisnv while from every portion of toe Empire men of different races have gone to the firing-lme* Yet the ei'y is for wore and still more ir.en. One reason for this urgent demand is perhaps a feeling that the war must be ended as quickly as possible. Our foes are almost cut off from the, outside world, 4nd the Allies have every week more justification for their, confidence in final victory, 'but public opinion desires Pan assurance that there shall be no unnecessary delay in carrying.on .hostilities in any of the theatres of the war. As our New Zealand Ministers have said, it will be a,good thing-if. we are .able to do our full share.iii the conflict largely on a voluntary basis.- .SentJiifent,however, must not be allowed to stand in the way of doing our to duty to ourselves and our Allies. That . duty may necessitate resource to a larger measure of compulsion. And in this connection it is well to remember that the adoption of compulsion for- the defence of the realm in time of stress, to cease with the occasion, is. a part of the British Constitution that has existed .Jor a thousand years. The people of New Zealand will await with interest; announcements that may be made at Westminster as to the War Council's requirements and whether anything further has to be done tiv the British Parliament to meet them.