From ‘Array the Nation’, The Spectator, 22 May 1915
THERE have been many surprising things in this war, but perhaps the most surprising of all is Lord Kitchener’s speech in the Upper House on Tuesday afternoon. In it he told the nation that he wants three hundred thousand more recruits “to form new armies.”
If he had asked for a million, or even two million, more men we should not have been surprised, though even then, taking the Army and Navy together, we should not be doing, per head of population; more than, or even as much as, the French; and should be doing a very great deal leas than the Germans.
At such a juncture as this to ask for only three hundred thousand men literally makes one’s brain reel. It would seem to shows one of two things: either Lord Kitchener during the ten months that have elapsed since the beginning of the war has obtained far more men than the nation has any idea of, or else—which of course is a perfectly incredible, ridiculous, and impossible supposition— Lord Kitchener is not aware of the wastage of war, and is under the delusion that the cadres of his fighting force can be kept up to strength (the absolutely essential condition for an efficient army) without a huge reserve.
Britain’s best politics newsletters
You get two free articles each week when you sign up to The Spectator’s emails.
Already a subscriber? Log in
Comments
Join the debate for just $5 for 3 months
Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for $5.
UNLOCK ACCESS Just $5 for 3 monthsAlready a subscriber? Log in