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MARRIED MEN AND RECRUITING. P6
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.
V.T.C. IN OTHER LOCATIONS. P?
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.
VTC APPEAL. P4
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.
OUR LETTER BOX Back Page
AMMANFORD V. T. C.
To the Editor, Amman Valley Chronicle
Sir, - May I be allowed, through the medium of your valuable paper, to bring before the inhabitants of Ammanford and district the claims of the Volunteer Training Corps.
Some little time ago, at a public meeting, it was decided to start the Corps, and steps were immediately taken to do so, and I am pleased to say we have 70 members. This however, does not do justice to our district, and upon making enquiries I find that there was a feeling among a large number that it would be well to wait the advent of Lord Derby’s recruiting scheme before joining.
I have therefore waited until the terms of the scheme were known before making a further appeal.
It is now clear that all miners are “starred,” and others whose business may be affected by the war and others in positions from which they cannot be spared are exempted, and therefore will not be called upon to join for active service abroad, thus leaving them free to join the V. T. C.
I therefore trust that we shall have a large number of men coming forward to join, and thus proving their desire to do what they can to help our country at the present time when assistance in every form is so much needed.
In addition to the infantry drill, members will have the opportunity of using the rifle and to take part in shooting competitions which will be arranged witht ehMorris Tube at the Drill Hall.
The drill take place at the Drill Hall every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday evenings at 7.30, when all who desire to join may do so, and let me hope in conclusion that we shall soon have the Company at full strength.
Come and join quickly.
Any further particulars can be had from the secretary, Mr. W. L. Smith, solicitor, Ammanford, or from – yours faithfully
W. N. JONES.
READING MATTER FOR SOLDIERS. P4
To the Editor, Amman Valley Chronicle
British Expeditionary Force,
France.
Sir, — I am taking the liberty of dropping you these few lines on behalf of the boys of the Salvage Company.
There are here many boys from the district who are readers of the Amman Valley Chronicle, and they beg upon me to ask you will you be so kind as to publish this in your paper for them to get some old books and papers to read, as it will pass a couple of hours away these wet and cold nights.
We were very sorry indeed to hear the news of the 4th Welsh Territorials, which have been through very hard times in the Dardanelles. I hope you will publish this in your paper. — We remain yours truly.
Pte. MORGANS (of Penygroes)
Pte E. METIA (of Pantyffynnon)..
Soldiers come and soldiers go, but up to the present the committee seems to have relapsed into a slumberous stat so characteristic of bodies that are lacking an active head. Whoever is the appointed leader should make an effort to get the committee into working order. This week there have been three or four smoking concerts, spontaneously got up by friends of the departing soldiers, and the gifts made have been supplied out of money collected among those attending.
This does not give everyone the same recognition, and a central fund would be much fairer. In Cwmamman, the workers have voluntarily agreed to contribute so much per head to a fund, and if that were done, and consistently maintained, in Ammanford there should be an adequate sum available to give those returning to the Front a token of the appreciation felt at their services, and something left over to provide handsomely for those who are fortunate enough to come home at the close of the war.
The committee was supposed to be representative of all sections of the community as well as of the collieries, but no public step appears yet to have been made.
LOCAL WARRIORS P?
Private Willie Williams and Private Wyndam Williams, sons of Mr. J. Williams, Fairview, Walter Road, Ammanford, have been home on furlough. The former left again for his regiment on Tuesday, and the latter leaves on Monday next.
A “Smoker” is being given in his honour at the New Inn on Friday evening.
A brother of these two soldiers has, unfortunately fallen on the battlefield.
* * * *
Private Caradoc Davies joined the Royal Welsh Fusiliers soon after the outbreak of war. He went with his regiment to the Dardanelles last August and was severely wounded in the knee.
He was sent home for treatment to the Manchester Military Hospital, and was subsequently removed to the Manchester Royal Infirmary, where he still is.
Private Davies is a son of Mr. John Davies, Villiers Road, who also has another son with the Forces.
Private Geo. Jones of the 18th (Pioneers) Battalion Welsh Regiment, of the “The Chadwicks,” Maesyquarre Road, Ammanford, has been home from Winchester Camp on a visit to his parents.
* * * *Mr. J. W. James, of 81 College Street, Ammanford, who is a Second Lieutenant in the 9th (Reserve) Battalion Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry, is now second in command of the Officers’ Training Company, 10th Reserve Infantry Brigade, stationed at Swanage, Dorset, and is also doing a considerable amount of lecturing on military matters.
* * * *
Private John Jones, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, son of Mr. Griffith Jones, Meurig Villa, Penybank Road, Ammanford – who had been reported missing since September 25th – is now officially reported killed at Loos.
The young man was only 19 years of age, and enlisted in September 1914.
Sapper MORIARITY, of 1, Field Street, Ammanford, has been wounded in France, and it has been found necessary to amputate his arm.
This is the second time he has been wounded. He now lies at the No. 21 Casualty Clearing Station, and is going on as well as can be expected.
* * * *
Private Geo. Thomas, Wind Street, and Private Joe Carruthers, Quay Street, are now on leave, after being on service at the Dardanelles.
Thomas suffered from dysentery and a wound in the side, and Carruthers was wounded in the foot by a bomb.
Both have shortly to rejoin their regiments and proceed to France next month.
Private Wynford Morris and Private Phillips Mortimer, also home on leave, are detailed for light duty at Wrexham.
* * * *
Private Ivor Powell, 1/4th Welsh, youngest son of Mrs. Powell, Sunny Hill, Llandebie, who has been reported wounded and missing since the 10th August at the Dardanelles.
* * * *
Private W. H. Jones, 1/4th Welsh, whose wife lives at 19, Cardonnel Terrace, Pantyffynnon, went to the Dardanelles three months ago. He was reported missing on the 10th August, and has not since been heard of.
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