CORRESPONDENCE.

VIEWS ON CONSCRIPTION FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE.

[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPPCTATOR.".1 SIR,—Few topics have received more widespread attention of late years than the subject of national defence, and more abuse and adverse criticism have been bestowed upon con- scription as a means to this end than I think it rightly deserves. When I hear the man in the street or in the club denounce conscription and stigmatise it as tyrannical, I often wonder why he thinks a few months of enforced service in the

Army, in order to learn to defend his hearth and home, is a greater interference with his liberty than compulsory financial aid, which every good citizen gives his country in the form of rates and taxes. Although every Englishman indulges in a grumble when the tax and rate collectors call for their due, I have never met any reasonable man who did not regard these payments as necessities in every well-ordered State.

I do not wish, however, to dwell on the political justice or military necessity of conscription, but to consider the personal question—the influence on the individual—for on this I can speak with knowledge derived from actual experience. Although born a Dutch subject, I came to England when fourteen years of age, went to school, and afterwards entered

business here, so that in education and training I may call myself an Englishman. At the age of twenty I found, how-

ever, that the Dutch Government did not allow my six years' residence in this country to exempt me from service in the Army of my native land, and consequently I served the various obligatory terms as a conscript in Holland. I shall never regret the thirteen months spent as a soldier, and shall always consider that the habits of punctuality and discipline

which I then acquired, and my physical training, have amply

compensated me for the time taken from my business training and career. That this loss of time is a serious drawback to the conscript I will not deny, for at the very age that a young man is in training for his career in life he has to interrupt it for military service. The hardship, however, appears greater than it really is, for it is the competition with others that we have mostly to fear in the struggle for place and position in life, and when all are subject to the same disability this fear may be said to be groundless.

Certainly a good many men on finishing their term of military service will find that their places are taken by others, but an equal number of vacancies will occur owing to the younger men having to take their turn at soldiering. In Holland the duration of conscript service is much shorter than in France and Germany. The first term only lasts from eight to twelve months; in the course of the next seven years the conscript is called out for three separate terms of one month each.

During the whole of this time he remains attached to his original regiment and company, and when away from duty is considered entirely as if he were on furlough, so that in case of mobilisation he returns immediately to the headquarters of his regiment, where his rifle, uniform, and general equipment have been stored and are kept in readiness for him at any moment. In this way only about one-seventh of the Army is actually embodied, whereas the remaining six-sevenths can be mobilised at very short notice. After completing his seven years, the conscript passes into the Reserves, and only serves a further two terms of one week each. A. fevr years ago a system was introduced by which the first term cf service was reduced to four months for men who had passed an examination in drill and preliminary military training, and for this classes have been established in every garrison

town. Conscription is, therefore, a far less severe tax on the young men of Holland than it is on those of the larger Continental nations, and yet I think the Dutch soldier will give a good account of himself if ever he is called upon to

defend his fatherland.

From my own observation, I should say that one of the most valuable influences of conscription is the lessening of social differences and of class hatred; for when conscripts of all classes are living together under conditions of equality, the

labouring men learn to appreciate the good qualities of the upper and middle classes, whilst the latter begin to recognise that kind-hearted, simple honesty which is often bidden to the casual observer by the rough and uncouth mannerism of the working man. The better mutual understanding thus obtained should help to bring us nearer to the time when Capital and Labour will work hand-in-hand for the prosperity of both.

In the Army only military rank counts. Even from the very first day when I stood in the large drill-hall

waiting to be allotted to my regiment, I felt instinctively that social differences bad for tbe time being ceased to exist. As the well-cut coat, but lately fashioned by a first-class tailor, brushes against the well-worn jacket of the labourer, I recognised that here we were all equals, as indeed we should be a few days later when we made our first

appearance on the drill-ground, awkward and nervous, trying to master the first principles of "Attention!" "Right turn ! " "Left turn 1" and "Dismiss!" Of course the first few weeks in barracks were most uninteresting, when patient, and sometimes impatient, sergeants endeavoured to teach stupid recruits the elementary principles of military drill; but gradually, as we went out for marches and manceuvres, the work became more interesting. Both body and mind were trained in a manner which I have found most useful during my subsequent career. When first I joined the Dutch Army I was by no means over- strong and robust, and yet by gradual training I accomplished the long route. marches and carried the heavy kit with the strongest of my comrades. Many a time did I return to barracks after marching twenty miles and more, carrying a kit weighing nearly sixty pounds, when many of my fellow-soldiers with less perseverance and esprit de corps had dropped out of the ranks by the wayside. The military training developed every good and useful quality. Those who in civil life earned their daily bread with their bands learned to use their brains, and those who were more accustomed to use their mental powers acquired the skill to use their hands. Peasant lads, raw from the country, were gradually turned into smart, active-minded men, whilst pampered youths learned that life was worth living without the luxuries and comforts to which they had been accustomed, and to use their hands to good purpose without fear of soiling them. For the soldier has many duties not altogether of a military nature. Every day the potatoes for the next day's meal have to be peeled and vegetables cleaned ; once or twice a week the barrack-room floor, tables, and benches have to be scrubbed ; and in all these duties each man has to take his turn. By doing this work we become handy, active, and smart,—most useful qualities in whatever we undertake, and in whatever class of life our lot is cast.

If conscription were introduced into England, I think we should see less slouching ruffianism and discourtesy in our streets, for in barracks the great principles of discipline, obedience, and courtesy would be instilled into those who had failed to learn them in earlier life. At the commencement of my military service a relative said that a few months' soldier- ing would make a man of me. I know that when I entered the barrack gates for the first time I was but a boy. During those eight months of service I had every quality developed, and got my first experience of personal responsibility. After going through a special course, I managed to get my pro- motion to corporal; and when for a few weeks prior to my departure I commanded my squad, I learnt to think. Being personally answerable for the punctual appearance of my men at drill, and for the various domestic arrangements in con- nexion with my squad, I had to use my own initiative, and acquired that most useful gift of being able to give orders and to see them properly carried out. And so I truly believe that this eight months of military training put years on to my age in mental development, and on leaving my regiment I felt capable of fighting for my place and position in the battle of life. When, but a few months ago, I stood for the last time in the barrack quadrangle and took leave of my comrades, there was in my heart a deep feeling of regret at parting from my many friends, notwithstanding our social differences, and at leaving the old barracks where I had learnt so much that has been and will be of incalculable use to me in later years. Although I have given up more than a year to military training, I feel sure that the time has not been lost, and that I have learnt many things that no schoal education could have taught me. Moreover, my comrades and I feel proud that if at some future time our country requires our strength, we shall be not only willing to give her our aid, but also able to give it to the best advantage, assisted by knowledge and experience.—I am, Sir, &c., W. L. VAN DE KA.STEELE.