June 21.
Recent correspondence on the subject of young China Britons and the war, and the Sending of white feathers to those who have not yet volunteered receives added point from the letter which appears today in the cor respondence columns. The time has come for all Britons of military age to decide for themselves, or have the proper authorities to decide for them, whether they can best serve their country by remaining at their jobs in China, or whether the time has come to go. elsewhere and prepare to take up arms in defence of all that they hold dear. "At the outcome of the war such men were told by H. the Ambassador, doubtless upon instructions from home, to stay at their posts. Not so very Jong ago that advice was changed and men of suitable age were appealed to to volunter. Despite the Ambassador's initial advice there were men whose desire to' serve their country would not be denied, and young men, some of high position left Shanghai and China, even without any certainty that they would be accepted, or given commissions which so many of them deserved and have since obtained.
The response to the Ambassador's second appeal has not been bad, It could be infinitely better, Today's correspondent states that to his knowledge that there are many young! Britons in Shanghai, whose presence here is not indispensable in the interests of the Empire, and who should be taking a more active part in its defence. There is reason to beeve that that allegation is correct. It is impossible to believe that there are many. men in the twenties who occupy in China positions which they must continue to hold the interests of Great Britain and the Empire. If there are any at all they must be somewhat in the nature of infant prodigies who have made their way in commerce at marvellous rate. There is more reason to believe with the writer of the letter in ques~ tion that they are occupying junior positions which could very well be taken over by. women for the duration.
Perhaps there are some conscientious Jectors. Conscientious objection is very often merely a phase of youth. Already many who adopted that pose in Britain have ultimately found themselves in the fighting units because of what they have seen. If there are any in China they may rest assured that to the end of their days they will regret it if they are not able to say that in this titanic struggle they did their part, There are thou~ sands of men throughout the Empire who for tone reason or another,—many because the Government found it necessary to use their services other than in the army and navy,—who labour under a continual regret that they were unable to fight the enemy. They are told that by standing and waiting they were doing their part, but that is poor consolation to those whose age now. prevents them from doing what they would wish.
"They think themselves accursed they were not here And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks hat fought with us upon Saint Crispn's Yet _men of fairly advanced years, who) have: been acceptable by reason of technical Knowledge, and the like, have quietly stolen away from Shanghai to offer their services in the Grand Cause. How will they regard the youth which has remained in the shelter of Shanghai, when they come back victorious. from this struggle? And "how; will that. youth regard them? There are throughout the various theatres of war young Britons holding their manhoods dear, vindicating their right to the proud title of Briton, realiz~ ing the high privilege of being able to risk their lives in the defence of everything that free men hold dear. 'The question of British youth in this part of the world is purely one Of conscience. No one except the wearer Knows just where the shoe pinches, and for' that reason the sending of white feathers is to be deplored, but with the whole of the British nation in the firing line, with women and children standing up so splendidly to all' the enemy can do to them, there is a very strong reason why every young British man. should ask himself the question what he can 49 to support the gallant efforts of the people
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.