The man we are imagining would say : " I
am already an efficient Volunteer, and if mobilization comes I will join up on the instant. Meanwhile the best help I can give to the country is to grow all the potatoes and other vegetables I can. If I do not, my land will lie idle." The War Office talks about the Volunteer of Section D being able to resign at a fortnight's notice as though that meant that he might not be available at all when mobilization came. But surely the War Office has all the time got the Volunteers of all the various Sec Lions absolutely tight. If the Germans attempt a raid or invasion, they will not give a fortnight's notice. Men of Section D, who have not given a fortnight's notice either, are bound to mobilize. But as we said last week, we do not in the least want to dispute the War Office decision. Every man who can possibly do so ought to pass from Section D into Section A. Nevertheless, let us have the remainder of Section D formed into a Reserve. Let men in that Reserve be encouraged to go on drilling as much as they can, and, if mobilization comes, the vast majority of them will be useful Volunteers whin a few days even if they are not fully efficient at the moment of mobilization. Useful able-bodied men in these times ought never to be dismissed and lost sight of. This war has proved over and over again that more men are always wanted.
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