Government and Volunteers The statement issued by HM. Embassy on the subject of British subjects who desire to proceed home to fight, which appears elsewhere {in this issue, should serve 10 prove to them that their desires have been fully represented the British Government. Since the extension fof the area of hostilities H.M. Ambassador has again informed HM. Government "Of the growing anxiety of a considerable umber of focal British subjects to offer theme Selves for active service in various eapaciics and has enquired whether, if the Government were for ina position fo arrange accommodation, there wes any objection to the raising of funds focally facitate the passage home of these volunteers, reply has now been received. through His Majesty's "Embassy stating that the general altitude of His Majesty's Government towards the Feerulting of British subjects resident in distant countries ts at present under review. There 1
locally' for passages for" reem 20 Sowever no" otjecton to the along fonds recruits are actually sent, until further instruct {ons have been received."
That, announcement is eminently. satisfactory for it Indicates that the British Government's decision not to accept volunteers from here is by no means final, but that it may be changed at some future date when the necessity for their services becomes more urgent. It has to be remembered that when most of the volunteers went home in the early months of the last war, there was no such thing as conscription in Britain, came the merrier. Now the Government's are full training about three million men, whose numbers are expected to increase to five million by the end of the year, and the situation is, therefore, very different from what it was twenty-six years ago. It is still necessary for those men, who are cating their hearts out in their desire to offer their all to their country, to realize that for the time being they are still called upon to maintain that sterner discipline of having to do what they do not want to. Without doubt the Government will not hesitate to call upon them when they are convinced that their services are necessary, and though this what is to be hoped is a temporary decision is a hard one to bear, those whom it concerns will undoubtedly accept it with that same loyalty" and patriotism which inspires their desire to proceed on active service,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.