THE AMMAN VALLEY CARMARTHEN AND EAST CARMARTHEN NEWS.
The decision of the Cabinet to adopt compulsion in the recruiting of single and, probably, married men of military age, is exciting keen discussion throughout the country.
After a long period of his “Wait and See” policy, the Prime Minister has at last come to the conclusion that, in order to redeem his pledge to those married men who have voluntarily come forward to offer their services to the country, it is inevitable steps should be taken to rope in all those slackers and shirkers who have failed in their national duty.
It is understood that the number of single men not attested is, roughly, about 600,000, more than twice the original Army of Great Britain. Even yet there are men, more or less prominent in the political world, who are opposed to the immediate application of compulsion, but even they are obliged to admit that “if it is proved to be necessary to save the country” they will accept it.
Why, to a man of ordinary brains, it is inconceivable how there should have been the least hesitation in putting every available man in the country under training, as soon as Lord Kitchener expressed the opinion that this would be at least a three years war. Men were called to serve three years or until the end of the war, and no doubt many of those who enlisted early never expected to see the firing line, but were just going to have a nice holiday during the summer. But they and those ultra-optimists who predicted the war would be over in six months have had their calculations woefully upset.
Winter succeeded summer, and we are still looking forward, more or less hopefully, to that “drive” which is to be the forerunner of a triumphant march to Berlin. We have learnt something of the devices and fiendish instruments of warfare the Germans are capable of producing and using, and yet such is the squeamishness of our politicians and leaders that they would rather hundreds and thousands of our flesh and blood should be allowed to go to their death, than hasten to adopt adequate retaliative methods.
The man in the street is getting impatient and disgusted, and is rapidly coming to the conclusion that the nation has no real leader. Though we have, as Lord Curzon has said, “learned the extent of the enemy’s resources and although in both respects signs of weakness are visible, we realise that every ounce of effort that we can put forward as individuals and as a nation will be required, and that greater sacrifices and sufferings will have to be endured before the only peace that we cans so much as contemplate appears above the horizon.”
Knowing this, should there be any further messing with the question of compulsion, when there are so many thousands of young men who altogether refuse to recognise their duty to the State? Surely, it is time that every effort should be made to give a much needed respite from the horrors of war to at least some of those brave fellows who have endured so much, in order that they may return refreshed and heartened to help to complete the task so jauntingly entered upon and so blunderingly carried on.
