" A SHIRT ON THE FORE-LIFT."
LTO THE EDITOR OP THE " SPECTATOR."]
3In,—Your article in last Saturday's Spectator on " The Civil Service and the Army" makes known generally what many people have for some time been individually aware of—viz., that some heads of our public offices prevent their subordinates from joining the Army. Is not this contrary to the law P I can remember the days when an owner or master of a British merchant ship was liable to a penalty if he tried to prevent any of his crew joining a man-of-war which was short of hands. There was a recognized signal by which the merchant seaman wishing to join the Navy made his wish known.. He went aloft and hung a shirt on the fore-lift—the tackle supporting the yard-arms or extremities of the fore-yard. On the signal being observed a boat was sent from the man-of- war for the seaman signalling, and—within my experience— no attempt was made to hinder him from entering the Navy, though occasionally there was some grumbling. Is there any reason why the head of a public office or an employer should not also be compelled to refrain from putting any obstacle in
the way of a willing recruit P—I am, Sir, &o., SENSE,
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