CALL ON MEN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 January 1940, Page 5

CALL ON MEN

BRITAIN’S MOBILISATION PLANS TRAINING IN FRANCE & NEAR EAST. APPROVAL OF COMPULSORY SERVICE. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. LONDON, January 3. The “News Chronicle” says that large numbers of the 2,000,000 men due for calling up in the next, few months will be trained in France, Africa, Palestine and elsewhere, thus relieving the billeting strain in England and providing reinforcements at strategic points. Tile Ministry of Labour has relaxed the schedule of reserved occupations embracing 60 trades and professions, enabling those so employed to volunteer. It is understood that this decision involves about a million of those employed in many occupations who are enabled to join, any branch of the service. A second list stipulates that tradesmen must volunteer’ in their own trade. The Ministry also appeals for volunteers for France. Referring to the new proclamation making liable to military service all men between the ages of 19 and 27, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Labour, Sir Thomas Phillips, said last night, a radio message reports, that it was almost certain that all the classes would have been called to the Colours by the end of the year. Registration and the calling-up of the various groups will be announced at intervals, and the first to go will be the 23-age group, but they are not likely to be called up before March. The men in the 19-age group will not be called up for service until they reach the age of 20. The total number of men who, since the introduction of compulsory military service, have been registered, including those under the present proclamation, is between 2,500,000 and 2,750,000. In addition, there are the men who were members of the regular reserves or the auxiliary service before the outbreak of war, and those who have entered as volunteers since the war.

This extension of military service is taken by this morning’s newspapers as further evidence of Britain’s determination to spread out justly the burden of the war. The “Daily Telegraph” says that by this methodical process it will be possible to discriminate in the allocation of the manpower available. The waste and confusion which were so conspicuously associated with the application of voluntary service in the last war should be averted.

The “Daily Telegraph” adds that the proclamation will also serve another purpose. It not only notifies 2,000,000 men of their liability to service. It also notifies the world of how much in earnest the British Government and people are in fulfilling the task to which they have set their hands. It is an effort whose magnitude is made more impressive by the complete acquiescence of a nation which has been traditionally averse from any compulsory service. The “Yorkshire Post” warns the people that the lack of activity on the Western Front at present must not be taken as a sign that the Allies will win the war without major military activities. Comparing mobilisation figures with those of France, it says there can be no question of invidious comparison. Britain had not to compete with her ally, but to co-operate with her. The proclamation provided evidence that Britain is sparing neither time nor effort in mobilising her man-power for the fray. It would also help to banish the not uncommon feeling that great sources of willing service were lying as yet untouched.