THE HUNTLY PRESS. PUBLISHED WEEKLY AT 1 P.M. FRIDAY, JULY 16, 1915. Recruiting.

Huntly Press and District Gazette, Volume 4, 16 July 1915, Page 2

THE HUNTLY PRESS. PUBLISHED WEEKLY AT 1 P.M. FRIDAY, JULY 16, 1915. Recruiting.

No doubt most of our readers have perused the stirring appeal made by Lord Kitchener for more men, and to those who have, and who have followed the events of the War as revealed to us from time to time, it must be evident that the greatest need at the front is men, more men, and still more men. It is now nearly twelve months since the war began, and progress on the part of the Allies is s.i slow and uncertain that it would appear likely that the war will be dragged on for a very long period. We know that the longer hostilities continue the greater will be the losses In men and money, and surely it is the duty of everyone in the Empire to. do his share in carrying the burden. We think it has not yet been properly brought home to some of us, that the men at the jfront are not only fighting for the Empire, but also for each individual in it.

If we are of those who cannot by reason of age or circumstances, take active part in the fighting, we should certainly find some other way of giving our assistance to this great and just cause. If we are of those who are able-bodied, young and free to choose, we should set ourselves seriously to think, whether we are justified in staying at home, safe and comfortable, while our brothers are suffering and dying in France and the Dardanelles, that our homes might thus be safe ar.d comfortable. It is, of course, a matter for each individual conscience to decide, but perhaps, in some cases, conscience has, not been given a fair chance, but has been stifled a good deal. Of course, all people prefer a whole skin to a holey one, most of us would rather have two legs than one, and there are very few who could honestly say that it would be a pleasure to die, but sometime! a whole skin, the full compliment of legs and arms, and «ven life itself can be too dearly Bought. If these good things are secured as the price of stilling our conscience, and consequent failure to render our plain duty to King and Country, then we submit that the price is far too high, and will impose a burden on us for all time, and

perhaps eternity. It is a long cry, perhaps, to the close of the war, but when it does come, and the heroes who have fought and conquered return to our shores, what will be the position of these in comparison with those who have stayed comfortably at home. What will people think of them, say of them, and how will they treat them. What will the stay at homes think of themselves when they see men who have been maimed, and think of the hundreds of thousands that have died for their sakes. Will there not be a feeling that they are unworthy of the sacrifice, that, so far as they are concerned, the suffering and death has been in vain? We would urge the young men of this town to stoo and consider awhile their position. We do not say that any one or other should volunteer, and we deprecate any movement which will lead to the horrible mistakes that have been made in other places, in heaping abuse on men who are willing but not acceptable, but we have noticed that the proportion of men who have gone from Huntly is much below that from other towns and we can see no reason why this should be so. There is one town on the Main Trunk line from which, it is said, every young man has enlisted or offered himself for enlistment, while in othe: places the proportion runs into a large per centage. We would like to see more of our young men offer. We cannot think that they are afraid, but that the slackness comes from a want of consideration of their position and duty, and an inordinate love of comfort. It is to be hoped that recruiting may become much brisker in Huntly and that the Town may not only have reason to be proud of the men who enlist, but also of the number that enlist.