Compulsory National Service (25 august 1915 Edgcumbe)
Compulsory National Service is a letter written by Robert Edgcumbe published in The Daily Chronicle on 25 august 1915.
This is a letter in reaction of Arthur Conan Doyle's letter on the same topic.
Compulsory National Service
To the Editor Daily Chronicle.
Sir, — Sir A. Conan Doyle appears to base his suggestions for some compromise about compulsory service on the statement that "it is not right that a man of 40 should be fighting in Flanders whilst youngsters of 23 are riding motor-bicycles." Whether youngsters ride motor bicycles or not does not appear to be material to the issue. The issue seems to be whether it is better to put into the field married or unmarried men. At the battle of Thermopylae Leonidas specially selected 300 "married" men to hold the pass, and I think he showed good judgment. What is the objection to married men? It is that they mostly have families to support. But those families, if their fathers should be killed, will soon grow up and support themselves. These fathers have done their duty by the State in providing a coming generation. On the other hand, if young unmarried men are slain, they can never become the fathers of another generation. This seems to me to cut away a large portion of Sir A. Conan Doyle's argument.
As a recruiting officer (unpaid) I do not think a black-list would do good. There are scores of parishes where recruiting is bad, and in these a black-list would have little or no effect. So far as one can see, voluntary enlistment has not failed. If at some future period there be a shortage of recruits, then the Militia Ballot could be put in force in selected towns and parishes which show a poor quota of eligibles enlisted. We might enlist from such parishes for home service at a reduced pay of 8d. a day, with the option of volunteering for foreign service at the full rate of pay.
The evil of conscription, or compulsory service — call it what one will — is that it introduces into every army men who have not the true fighting instinct, and whose one idea is to save their own skins, which injures all alike.
- ROBERT EDGCUMBE.
- Quay House, Newquay.
