The Dominion. THURSDAY, MAY 27, 1915. THE CALL FOR FIGHTING MEN

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2472, 27 May 1915, Page 4

The Dominion. THURSDAY, MAY 27, 1915. THE CALL FOR FIGHTING MEN

Now that the Minister of Defence has definitely stated that the rate at which New Zealanders arc' at present responding to the call of duty is not sufficient to provide the number of men which the Dominion is expected to put in the field, it behoves every unmarried man of military ag'e who has so_ far held back to ask himself why it is that he is lagging behind. Unless he can give a satisfactory answer to this question, it is difficult to sec how ho can escape the ignominy that attaches itself to tho shirker. Tho young man who can go but prefers to stay at home in ease and security and leave others to risk their lives for their country must be seriously lacking in patriotism and sclf-re-spect, if not in courage. There are a few dead souls in every nation. But probably the majority of those young New Zealanders who have not yet enlisted have not had clearly' brought home to them their personal obligation. are anxious enough to sec the Empire pass triumphant through this tremendous crisis, but they do not seem to realise that in order to make victory certain every British citizen must help to the very limit of his capacity. Many young men of military age and physically fit are faced with the morarproblem which arises out of a conflict of duties. They may have home ties, or they may have difficulties about leaving their occupations. It is impossible to lay down hard and fa-st rules of conduct in such matters. Each one must justify his choice to his own conscience, but the plain shirker deserves only the odium and contempt of his associates. Whatever excuses may be put forward, the fact remains that in a crisis like the present the national peril should be the great consideration. There are numbers _of healthy, active young fellows in .New -Zealand at the present moment who cheer our soldiers in public and pat them on the back in private, who assist in collecting for various war funds, and tako part in patriotic demonstrations—in this way they appear to have satisfied themselves they are doing thoir part, and forget to ask themselves whv they are not shouldering a rifle. It does not apparently occur to them that tho things whioh they are doing might be done by the womenfolk, or "by those who are prevented by age or infirmity from going to tiie front. It is not merely to do things, but to do the most useful thing, that counts at the present moment, and the most useful v.'ay in which a young man can serve his country just now is by actually fighting for

Hitherto New Zealand has had no difficulty in sending, all the men that the Imperial authorities havo asked for, but there is at present a shortage ill the number of men offering for the infantry. If the single men do not respond more freely it will be necessary to ask the married men to make good the deficiency. The Wellington district has done remarkably well, and it is to be hoped that it will continue to supply its full quota until the war is brought to a victorious conclusion. And now that the urgency of the need has been so plainly slated by the Minister, other districts will probably make a more vigorous effort to meet the demands made upon them. The country, excellently as it has responded to the call, has not oven yet thoroughly braccd itself up for this tremendous conflict. Many people do not yet realise that every ounce of the Empire's might must be put into the gigantic struggle. Nor do many of those who have hung back realise that the bigger the forces wo put in the field the less the dangers and difficulties the gallant men already ia the'fighting line will be called on to face and ovcrcomo. Letters which Ministers have rcccived from those who have lost sons and other near relatives at the front sliow that New Zealanders have their full share of the indomfighting spirit that has made our Empire. They told a Spartan woman long ago Hoc son had fallen as lie faced the foe And "bury him," she said, with steadfast face, "And let 'the younger brother take his place." They told a woman yesterday in France Her son was killed. She flashed a sudden glance From shining eves. And "promise me," she cried, "Victory to Franco: and I am satisfied." The Spartan spirit described in these lines, which recently appeared in the London Times, can be paralleled by the courageous manner in which New Zealand fathers and mothers have borne the loss of soldier sons. The sacrifices that some people are making are wonderful. A roll which has been drawn up shows that with very few exceptions all the manses o'f the Established Church uf Scotland' have given every available son to (lie service of the country. The total works out at no less than ninety per cent. What si splendid example to the whole Empire! Money is necessary for the successful prosecution of the war, and armies cannot light without guns and ammunition; but the chiefest need of all is men. The most useful man in the Umpire to-da.v is the man who is lit and ready to serve on the battlefield. One o'f the leading scholars of Scotland recently declared that as he stood by the bedside of some of the wounded soldiers lie felt that a.ll the work of his life diminished into iu.signilirance in comparison with theirs. As lnn S as lh- war lasts 111" making Mini equipment, of h rriiie;. must. Ink--|ii*nerrlenrr over .ill ol.hrr ar.ljvitie,.. A striking illustration of the nian-

nor in which this fact is now being realised in Lngiand is provided by « recent cable message, which declared llmi the Bishop of London's Ordination Council lias announced that it will not consider applications fur ordination unless the candidate is unable to serve in the war. This means that the Council considers that the immediate duty of every man who is fitted to bear arms is to actively assist in the overthrow of a ruthless and brutal Power, which has deliberately broken its oath and violated ail the laws of Cod and man. All other occupations and duties are of secondary importance when compared with the task of crushing this enemy of the hitman race.