7 AUGUST 1915, Page 16

RECRUITING AND REGISTRATION.

[To TRZ EDITOR OP TER "SPECTATOR."] SIR,—It is a great pity that other newspapers have not followed your example in laying stress on the probability that men who are " fetched " will not obtain the same terms of service as those who have come of their own free will. During the past year many hundreds of recruits have passed through my hands, and I have had every opportunity of hearing their opinions. I am sure that this point occurs to none of them, but that if it did it would weigh heavily. In my experience, after the initial rush, there have been two spurts in recruiting: the first after the Parliamentary inquiry forms were issued last December; the second when the Cabinet changes took place. In both cases it was believed that compulsory service was imminent, Mitch more will this be so when the registration forms are issued on August 15th. If the Parliamentary Recruiting Committee really wishes to help to preserve the 'voluntary system it has its great, and last, chance in the next fortnight. The issue of a set of new placards with short and clear hints that this was the last chance for the volunteer, with the addition of tables of pay and allowances in Continental armies, would, I am sure, have more effect than all its former efforts put together.