FOUR GROUPS OF RECRUITS TO JOIN THE COLOURS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2649, 21 December 1915, Page 7

FOUR GROUPS OF RECRUITS TO JOIN THE COLOURS

NOVEL. SCENES WITNESSED IN LONDON AND PROVINCES

By Meeraph-Presa Association-Copyright London, December 19. • The proclamation calling up recruits led to. novel scenes in elsewhere. Bill-posters went round the streets in the forenoon affixing tho proclamation. They attracted little notice, presumably because notifications have become almost a habit. , ', . , ~ , : It was really the newspapers, annonnoing that four groups had been called up, that ? gave the first intimation: The news flew rounff, Mid every copy of & proclamation became a magnet for small crowds, a large proportion of which read them eagerly, with evident personal interest. , The proclamation was dated tho 20th, and was issued in Lord Kitchener name, in virtue of Royal Warrant. The four groups' were directed to report, the date and place being specified. Many of those affected admitted they did not understand the instructions which were given, but for such men a War Office explanation was issued later, which cleared Tip any doubts. it points out that the posters are sufficient, notification, and informs men what to do if they want their recruitment postponed. Claims lor postponement must bo delivered by tho 30th. ' . , on The men will begin to present tliom selves as required on 20, receiving a fortnight's warning.. Afresh batch will be warned dailj, to pie\ent undue pressure on the recruiting officers. . Lord Derby points out that tlie calling up of groups is a novel task, and appeals to all "to facilitate the working of this new machinery of our national life, in order that ifc may work as smoothly as possible. NO. 1 GROI/P CONSISTS OF YOUTHS. (Reo. December 20, 7.25 p.m.) London, December 19. The No. 1 group consists of youths of eighteen who are under the military age. The four groups called up embrace unmarried men of from 1U to 11 years. , ' ' HEART OF THE COUNTRY ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. (Rec. December 20, 3.20 p.m.) London, December 19. Lord Derby and Mr. Ben Tillett were associated on tho platform at tho Alhambra Theatre on Sunday, in aid of tho French Red Cross Fund. Lord Derby commented that both would havo been astonished if they bad been told such a thing was possible a year ago. Now both had" the welfare of tho cbuntry in common. He said 110 would -not endeavour to anticipate Mr. Asquith, but 'he thought that after tlio Prime Minister's statement it would bo'found-the heart of'tho country was absolutely right. THE PLEDGE TO MARRIED MEN TO BE KEPT IN SPIRIT AND IN LETTER. London, December 19. Lord Derby, speaking at Bolton, disclaimed any credit for the group -system. He owed it to three Lancashire officers. All estimates of'the results of the call were guesswork. Ho himself did not know. Some people were saying that a conspiracy was afoot to induce Mr. Asquith to break his pledge to .the married men; He did not know, and he did not care, if it wore true. Ho knew that if anyone was more determined to keep the pledge than lnmself it was Mr. Asquith. "Wo in this country do not treat pledges as scraps of paper. The pledge must be kept in spirit and in letter."