VOLUNTARY RECRUITING. [To TES EDITOR CT THS "SPECTATOR. " ]
SIR,—Our system of voluntary recruiting has its merits and defects. One of the defects is that it is perhaps difficult for our allies to understand how admirable an effort has been made by the pick of British youth. For example, here is a brief extract from a letter written by a French sergeant who, in private life, happens to be a learned Professor. He has been serving at the front, and is now taking a brief rest at the depot of his regiment, where he has some notion of the number and quality of reserves available. He writes thus :-
" Si un jour de loisir yens prenez In peine de m'ecrire un mot, dites-moi aussi en passant quel eat l'effet de cette campagne pour renrelement, voire pour le service obligatoire, quo j'ai vise com- mencer dans vos journaux—quand je voyais les journaux. Croyez-vous quo votre effectif continental a &passe les 250,000? Il y a evidemment un grand besoin d'hommes ici, et it n'y en a guere en France que pour boucher lea treas."
The gaps are being valiantly filled. But the wish of the French to see more of our men at the front is as natural as, we may hope, it is complimentary. Germany, so far, has the
advantage not only of long preparation for war, but of a large and docile population. It is for us to show that we can do even better by trusting to the voluntary patriotism of a free
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