After Lord Curzon had spoken, Lord Kitchener stated, in answer
to Lord Charnwood, that approximately recruits are coming in to the number of thirty thousand a week, " besides the regiments that were being formed by different localities." "I do not say," he went on, " that the number will be sufficient. I think it will be understood, from what I said before, that the time will come when we shall require many more. When that time comes—and I shall certainly let it be thoroughly well known—I feel sure we shall have The response which this country always gives on such an occasion." This, of course, is only another way of saying that Lord Kitchener regards himself as in possession of a water-main, and that be can turn the tap on or of jest as he likes, and that the water will flow as and when required. That, in our opinion, is a very doubtful, not to say dangerous, supposition. The only practical way is to tell off people to keep the reservoir from which the main flows full of water. That is what we have advocated in our registration proposals, but this apparently is what Lord Kitchener does not think necessary. Indeed, one might almost suppose that the War Office regarded the reservoir as a kind of sacred object which would be profaned by the touch of civilian hands
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