THE MUSTER IN AUSTRALIA

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2972, 9 January 1917, Page 7

THE MUSTER IN AUSTRALIA

REVIVAL IN RECRUITING PREDICTED Captain Coates, tho organising secrotary of tho New South Wales rocruitinc campaign, stated recently that, considering that- Christmas week was generally a bad one for recruiting, it was encouraging to find that in tho country over 300 men enlisted during that week. . '.' "The recruiting campaign will start in earnest in January," Captain Coates said. "So far, all our energy has been devoted to eetting up tho machinery of tho organisation. The organisers and recruiting officers aro prepared for an active canvass throughout their respective areas, whioh are Federal electorate boundarios. 1 do not regard tho recent disclosure as to the attitude of the P.L.L. as serious, as 1 havo received many communications from prominent Labour loaders of many years' standing, stating that they intend to givo tbo new scheme their whole-heart-ed support. Already there- aro evidences of a rapprochement of those factions who wore so prominent in the recent referendum controversy. Tho recent, reorganisation of the Imperial Government, and tho message ol Mr. Lloyd George to the Dominions, indicate that tho Empire, as a whole, regards the , present situation us extremely serious, it is clearly stated by Mr. Lloyd Gcorgo that we shall need every man that wo can put in tbo field. "In previous campaigns the appeal has beon made to the emotions and to tho sontiment'iof men. The- rights of small nations,' and the brutal treatment of Belgium by tho Germans, appealed to the sportsmanlike instinct of Australians, and decided the attitude of many thousands. It is now manifest that Australia is engaged in this war in her own interests, and the appeal is to Australians to light for .self-preservation. "Notwithstanding tho criticisms of several members of tbo P.L.L., tho members of the committee are determined to go straight ahead with one object in view—raising the reinforcements that our Australian army is absolutely in need of., Tlio campaign will be conducted purely on the voluntary system. The committee will not, under any circumstances, countonanco any attempt to victimise any man who, for reasons of his own, cannot see his way to ciiJist. Each member of the committee will bo thoroughly loyal to the decision of tho country against compulsory service, and all recruiting officers and organisers have received specific instructions that they must carry out this policy. It is not intended to enter into any political or industrial controversy with the P.L.L., or any other political body.' The members of the committee do' not know, officially or privately, of any concerted movement or scheme- being set on foot by Federal or State Governments to force the people into a position where enlistment will bo the only alternative to .starvation, us stated by Messrs. Doyle and Willis; in fact, the members of the committee would not continue to act if they believed that such a stato of tilings oxisted." In conclusion, Captain Coates staled that ho had every hope that the new year would see a- revival in recruiting. "1 have such a faith in my fpllow-Aus-tralians," ho said,'."that I vlusc to believe that tho brothers'nf those heroes vho nmdo'Australia's reputation sit Gallipoli and Pozicies will be so unsportsmanlike and so unpatriotic ns to neglect to givo much-needed assistance to our Australian army in Flanders. It is becoming apparent to the ppoplo of this country that every shot fired and evory bayonet driven homo by Australian solidors is on behalf of the people of this fair land. Unfortunately this truth has not been brought homo in the past. Tho Australian has not boon told that the lime lifts arrived when he should put his back against tlio wall and primly set bis teeth to light on behnlf of his national existence. He is beginning now to wake up to tbp truth of the position, and when ho doos wo will see a. response to the recruiting appeal which will do our country credit, and uphold Hint glorious namn which tho Anzacs have marlo for un."