The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1915. COMPULSORY MILITARY SERVICE.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 September 1915, Page 4

The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1915. COMPULSORY MILITARY SERVICE.

The somewhat alarming cable messages that have recently been sent from Lon.lo.s relative to the possible resort to com cription in order to meet the rer.ii'.vinents for men in 101 ti, have natur-

ally caused some anxiety, more especially as there appears to be a considerable amount of political wire pulling, and a number of rumors that arc ill-, timed, unpleasant, and distasteful, while to make the position more critical there ;; at the same time the problem of industrial compulsion, which is also raising a storm. The compilation of the National Register is being proceeded with as speedily as possible, and it is this measure which is at the root of the double, although it is intended to be the ii'cans of solving (he two great problems that are creating such heated arguments in ill-; Homeland. The voluntary system of enlistment in Britain lias hitherto amply snfliced for all requirements, and. according to Lord Kitchener, has produced marvellous results up to the present. It is, however, the recruits for !01G that are causing anxiety owing to the falling oh" of enlistments lately. Until the National Register is complete it v. ill be impossible to ascertain the number of men available fur munition

vrrks and military senr.'e, respectively. Tin- Secretary for War expresses no opinion on the conscription question, but he po'iits to the splendid manner in which all classes have responded to the iv!l in the past, deducing from this the b"iicf that whatever sacrifices must bs accessary to bring the gigantic war to a successful issue would be cheerfully undertaken in the future. So far as ttts workers are concerned they have decided ii'.iininst i-nnacriptinn, but wo have it ! iivm their leaders that if til" Oovcrn- ! uient and its militaiy advisers consider j compulsory service is actually imperative j I'm mdur tn secure vi. lory, ami, provided I the facts prove thai assertion, then the I Trades Union Congress will reconsider the Bristol resolution against conscription and urge the Trade Unions to acquiesce. Nothing could be fairer than this offer, which docs credit to the patriotism and intelligence of its authors. The facts, as they are at present, will be difficult to construe except in one way. The military, authorises are convinced that the Allies cannot achieve that decisive victory which is so necessary unless with the aid of much greater forces than nic at present available. France is doing her utmost, and so is Belgium. Italy has her hands full, and so has Russia, so that Britain alone

can be looked to for the increase. The situation is one that requires very ae!teitc manipulation, but, unfortunately, a suction of politicians evince a most reprehensible desire to rush, matters and bring about a crisis that would certainly play into the hands of our enemies. The issue will have to be decided on facta and not on principles. When the figures compiled in the National Kegister are complete and available they will, as Mr. Lloyd George points out, show whether or not the voluntary system will suffice, but they may show that nothing but legal pleasure will provide the armies necessary to defend the honor of the Empire and save Europe from the triumph of military despotism. In the latter contingency we need have no fear that the patriotism of the British worker will be one whit less than that of the most ardent Imperialist. There is no need for controversy until the facts are avail able, and even then there should, without discussion, be an acceptance of the decision to which they point. .