MEN WANTED.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 319, 1 November 1915, Page 4

MEN WANTED.

A WOED TO SHIRKERS.

AN EMPHATIC APPEAL.

"It is the duty of the politicians to talk in optimistic tones about the war," said Captain Donald Simson to a Wellington audience in the Town Hall. "I am'not a politician, and I am addressing my remarks to the slacker and the shirker, to the mar who should 'come forward and is not coming forward. I have travelled over a forge part of New Zealand lately and I have met many able-bodied young 'men who have not yet offered "their services. I have heard their excuses, which do not amount to reasons. Ignorance and indifference seem to be at the root of the trouble—ignorance of the seriousness of the -war and indifference because they have bee.n told, that we are sure to win this war. Their excuses concern their own personal affairs and inclinations. They have no excuse from an Empire point of view. "The longer you delay coming forward the longer the war will last. We cannot gain the victory without men, trained men, lots of men. Will the New Zealanders and the Australians abandon Gallipoli now! Will' they leave sacred soil to be ploughed up by the Germans and the Turks, the soil which covers the bodies of thousands of our bravest men? Will they say that the blood shed there has been shed in fainT You Teply 'No,' but I tell you that the one thing that could force us to leave GallipoH would be the failure of recruiting. Can we win this war? You say 'Yes.' We can only win it with men, more men, fighting men. Your Christmas gifts for the troops and your expressions of patriotism are all very well, but they won't push the Turks off Gallipoli and they won't beat the Germans. That is work for men, trained and armed. "I don't quarrel with your games. Thq, man who plays games is keeping fit and I hope he will come into the ranks when he is called. But what about the fellows who do not play games, but who turn out to watch other men play? I quarrel with those who provide Saturday entertainments for shirkers. And I say to you players, put the football aside for a bit and try a rush against the Turks with the bayonet. They want men for that work 'in Gallipoli. Give the cricket ball a Test and learn to throw the bomb. Lay up the lawn tennis racket and learn to swing a pick and shovel, for this is an engineers' war. Put yourselves into condition. Jom our route marches and get over the sore heel, cold-in-the-head stage in readmess for the time when the Defence Department can take you into camp My advice is intended single, able-bodied man who shirker." „