Jan, 20.
It is decidedly good news that the British Government has decided upon the compulsory mobilization of male civilians between the ages of 16 and 60 years for the purpose of dealing with incendiary bombs, as announced by Mr. Herbert Morrison, Minister for Home Security. If there is any criticism at all it can only be that this step should have been taken much earlier, but, now that it has come, it is very welcome. 'These bomb fighters are not being asked to undertake anything very strenuous, for it is announced that they will be required to be on duty for 48 hours each month, which roughly means one night a week.' That should create no hardship for anyone. At the same time it would mean that millions of men will at all times be available to deal with bombs immediately they fall, and at a time when they are easy to quench. It has been shown, since volunteers for this work were asked for, that the incendiary bomb has lost much of its terror, and it is believed that with careful watching of housetops, and prompt action on the part of all concerned with their sand and buckets these incendiary bombs will soon have little more than a nuisance value, The decision of the Government is far more reaching than a mere expedient to meet particular emergency. It involves the recognition of the doctrine that all able bodied men have their duty to their country to per~ form along whatever lines the Government finds most necessary. Women have not been included in the scheme, though they are permitted to volunteer, but there cannot be any doubt that, if it were considered neces sary to do so, the same process of mobilization would be resorted to, Nor would the women object. The manner in which they have voluntarily responded to their country's: call has been a matter of pride and joy to their menfolk, and there is not the slightest doubt that if' the Government decided that compulsory service of all was wanted they would not hang back. It will be claimed by the enemy that in this mobilization Great Britain is merely taking a leaf out of Hitler's book. That may be true to some extent, but the difference is imposing. It is being imposed upon a free people willing and anxious to do everything necessary for their own defence, and not upon a nation reduced to brutish servitude. It is accepted by people whose eyes are still fixed upon the star of freedom, not by those who neither see its light, nor are able to appreciate it, This mobilization of service, for that is what it 1s, may be the precursor of other mobilizations, which will be just as readily accepted. If'it is necessary to place all the resources of Empire under such mobilization the Government will not hesitate to make the move, nor the people to agree to it. If it becomes necessary to place the enormous wealth of Great Britain at the disposal of the Government in order to win this war it will be done. Great Britain is not bankrupt as the enemy would like to believe, but merely. short of Amercian exchange, which cannot, be remedied without damage to sterling ex~ change. It may become essential that the whole of the vast wealth of the British shall be conscripted to be used in the best way' to serve British ends, and there is not a Briton worthy of that high name who would not consent, even though it would mean giving his all in the cause of victory.
This present temper of the British comes. from full realization of the fact that were they to lose this war they would lose their freedom and their wealth. The iniquitous Armistice terms imposed upon France, who is paying more for the German army of oc~ cupation than the yearly sums originally imposed upon Germany under the Treaty of Versailles, are clear enough indication of what Germany would require. The manner in which the occupied countries are being despoiled by fraud where possible, and by force when necessary leaves no doubts as to what would be the fate of Great Britain should Hitler ever succeed in winning this war of revenge and spoliation. It is because of this that the people of Great Britain will willingly assume every burden which the Government finds necessary to free themselves and the rest of Europe from the in-cubs of the aggressor states. Only by the utmost sacrifice will it be saved from rever~ sion to the savagery of the Dark Ages and the barbarities of the politically immature,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.