MARRIED MEN AND RECRUITING.
GOVERNMENT’S PLEDGE.
In regard to the exact meaning of Mr. Asquith’s pledge to married men, the Press Bureau on Friday evening issued the following : —
Derby House,
Stratford Place, W.,
November 19.
My dear Prime Minister, –
As some uncertainty exists as to the effect of the various statements recently made in Parliament and the Press on the subject of recruiting, may I endeavour to put the position in a few words?
Married men are not to be called up until young unmarried men have been.
If these young men do not come forward voluntarily you will either release the married men from their pledge or introduce a Bill into Parliament to compel the young men to serve, which, if passed, would mean that the married men would be held to their enlistment.
If, on the other hand, Parliament did not pass such a Bill, the married men would be automatically released from their engagement to serve.
By the expression “young men coming forward to serve” I think it should be taken to mean that the vast majority of young men not engaged in munitions work or work necessary for the country should offer themselves for service, and men indispensable for civil employment and men who have personal reasons which are considered satisfactory by the local tribunal for relegation to a later class can have their claims re-examined for such relegation in the way that has already been laid down.
If, after all these claims have been investigated and all these exemptions made, mentioned above, there remains a considerable number of young men not engaged in these pursuits who could perfectly be spared for military service they should be compelled to serve.
