THE AGE LIMIT

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3160, 11 August 1917, Page 8

THE AGE LIMIT

Sir,—Many mothers will be thankful to you for your sub-leader to-day regarding tlio injustice that will he done if the ill-advised proposal to en ist boys Sf nineteen 1m carried out. The objections to enlistment at that age that ruled awhile back, when it was decided to exempt boys under twenty, exist to-day. and another reason exists to-day that did not exist then, viz., rending drafts made up of voung lads. Had they continued to go iii small numbers they would have had" the proportional stiffening of men of all ages, if they go now, even with a fewmarried men, the Germans will be easily able to say, as we do, they are using only young boys for their drafts. There are many mothers who have seen one ot two boys reach twenty and go to the front, and have comforted themselves that their youngest,'being nearly a year under twenty will bo left with them. Why should mothers Ec the only women to make-sacrifices. Sir, I have heard it said, and with truth, that people without sons at tEe front don't know, the war is on. , Why should boys who have never tasted life be forced to fight for older men, hecauso, forsooth, they have a wife. The lads will fight for their .country and their own mothers and sisters, but all men should defend their own womenkind, and not shelter behind boys. I pray that tho Government may well consider this suggested injustice of taking tho widow's eivo lamb at an ago when stamina is sadly wanting, and many ills attend. J/ads of twenty are full young, and this has been already conclusively proved. If, however, it is decided to shield tho married men at the expense of the boys, then, for goodness sake, have nl: least two qualifications—exempt _an only son of nineteen, or a son of tuneteen who has brothers already at the front. I, hope that a strong agitation will be started against tho sacrifice of lntis. which has been suggested. , purely tho married men themselves will have a word to Sav on this—l am. etc., PAUSE AND THINK. August 10, 1317.