UNIVERSAL COMPULSORY MILITARY TRAINING.
(To THE EDITOR OF THE ..EPIRTATOZ.”3 am very glad to see that the Spectator has boldly advocated the necessity of universal military training (see issue of April 13th). It appears to me that it is quite possible, if not quite likely, that Members of Parliament and candidates on both sides would do themselves more good than harm by facing the question and carefully explaining the urgent necessity and great advantages of the system. It would improve the moral and physique of the nation and increase its industrial efficiency. Four meetings were held in different towns in the Ludlow division just before Parliament met. There appeared to be no opposition at any of the meetings, and several working men spoke in favour of it. Mr. Haldane's scheme is no doubt a very clever one, but it is extremely doubtful, and in my humble opinion very unlikely, that he will get the men and officers. Even if he does get them, can it be called in any possible way fair and just that three hundred thousand men out of many millions should be expected to take on themselves the whole duty and self-sacrifice of safeguarding the land that gave them birth in times of urgent national peril ? The idea is surely too absurd to be capable of argu- ment. Take the case (not, I think, an extreme one) of two men. One of an artisan, mechanic, or clerk earning, as long as he keeps his health, 22 a week, and enjoying perhaps one whole week's holiday in the year, which be gives up to go out for his annual training. The other man, having inherited an independent income of 22,000 a year, with plenty of leisure on his hands, does nothing whatever in any way to help in the defence of his country, and the advantages and safety which he enjoys. Boys whose parents can afford to keep them at school till sixteen should be compelled to pass a practical examination for a Subaltern's commission. The British people appear to be partly ruled by particular words to which they attach a meaning, which is often hope- lessly incorrect. They think that " conscription " and "universal military training" mean the same thing. Con- scription, they think, is a dreadful thing never to be mentioned if it can possibly be avoided, and they mix it up with universal service. Conscription means the taking of a limited number of men by lot or by force for service in a long-service aggressive army which can be compulsorily sent to any part of the world. Universal military service, on the contrary, is the most democratic army system ever invented, and the most brat. Under it rich and poor serve alike ; and under it a man is only compelled to defend his own country. In this country, however, it would be quite possible without any injustice to make boys who were better off and who had more spare time do more for the State than those who have less spare time and less money. It cannot be disputed that it is the manifest duty of every sound man to undergo sufficient military training to enable him to be ready and prepared to defend his country in time of need ; and it is surely the duty of women to see that men do not shirk their first duty to their country. Moth of the leading politi- cians on both sides are somewhat unwilling to take up any subject which may possibly cause them to lose votes. But if the women of Britain would set to work to impress on every man his manifest duty, we should have Cabinet Ministers and politicians of all sorts tumbling over each other to bring in a Bill for universal compulsory military service. I must not, Mr. Editor, take up more of your space, but I feel sure that it is well within the power of the women of Britain alone to bring it about that there shall not be a British mother in these islands who will not be proud that her sons are able, willing, and prepared to defend their country and their country's women and children, and not a boy or girl who will not point the finger of scorn at any lad who shirks his first duty to his [We agree with Mr. Hunt that universal training is not unpopular; but could not the expression be "training," not "service," as "service" is apt to be misunderstood, and to be taken to mean military service abroad or in the Regular Army? Such compulsory service is, of course, suggested neither by us nor by the National Service League. Our Regular Army must be filled, as always, by Volunteers. The essential need for universal training is moral and physical rather than military.—En. Spectator.]
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