As will be seen in our correspondence column, the Company Commander of the Ammanford V. T. C. (Ald. W. N. Jones) makes an appeal to all “starred” men to shew their willingness to do even a little bit in the present crisis in the history of the country by joining the V. T. C.
There ought to be in a place like Ammanford, with its several hundreds of colliers, all “starred,” and its numerous tradesmen who cannot be spared from their businesses, sufficient patriotism amongst them to form a really strong company, if not more than one.
There is no question of compulsion to give any service away from their own district, and it is very unlikely, with our Navy ruling the seas, that anything more than the guarding of any vulnerable point in the neighbourhood for an hour or two per day or week by any individual member of the company.
Up to the present, so far as the people in this locality are concerned there might be no war on at all, judging by the apathy the vast majority of the inhabitants shew in the matter of preparing themselves to guard their hearths and homes.
It is almost a pity that London is so far away and that the news of the havoc worked there by Zeppelins has been so rigidly repressed. A bomb on the Square would appear to be necessary to awaken some of the drowsy ones to a sense of the fact that this country is fighting for life and liberty.
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This is reguarding Llandilo VTC, however (I assume) it maybe common place
The selection of officers of the V. T. C. at Llandilo has not given unmitigated satisfaction, and there is a feeling among some of the members that the question of caste has entered rather too much into the matter.
It is pointed out that while tradesmen and shopkeepers comprise a large proportion of the company, not one has been honoured by selection even as a section commander, while the working class has been entirely overlooked, even the old soldiers.
It is safe to say that the only satisfactory way of selecting officers in a purely voluntary movement is by popular ballot. The majority of the members will take good care that there shall be no possibility of any section, platoon or company being under command of a “duffer,” but that men of merit, competency in drill and skill in shooting will be duly singled out.
It is quite possible that most of those appointed would secure election by popular ballot, but then again one or two might not, and so there is a fly in the ointment.
Ammanford Company is not yet ready for its sectional commanders, but when it is, then the members will, no doubt, wish to have a say in their selection.
