ld spirit was there still. But I
think it has to some extent at least surprised our enemies. But while we
have reason to be gratified by the action which the Government has taken
and which this House has supported them in taking, I think as a nation
we have quite as much reason to be proud of the spirit which is shown by
our countrymen in rushing to the standard as we have even in what has
been done by our soldiers on the field of battle. I never sympathized
with--I always resented--the view expressed at one time that our
citizens were holding back. There was no justification for it. [Cheers.]
At the outset they did not realize what it meant, but the moment they
did realize it they have shown that they are prepared to do their share
to fight the battles of their country. I am not going to say anything
about the difficulties in connection with recruiting this great force to
which the Prime Minister has referred. No one could have doubted that
difficulties of that kind would arise and that hardships would occur.
Criticism, I am sure, is not deprecated by the right honorable
gentleman, and ought not to be, if it is framed entirely with this
view--to make sure that everything that can be done is being done to
minimize the hardships and difficulties with which the authorities were
confronted. As the Prime Minister said, the machine was not framed to
deal with an emergency like this. No one could expect it to deal with it
smoothly. But we have a right to expect that the difficulties are
understood at the War Office, and we have the right also to ask that
since they cannot be met by the central machine, every effort should be
made in the direction of devolution, and that the difficulties shall be
met where they locally arise. I am sure it is a satisfaction to the
House, as it was to me, to find that before the discussion arose
yesterday not only had Lord Kitchener realized the difficulties, but
that he had taken every step possible to meet them, and that the step
which he did take was in the direction, which we all feel is a wise one,
of putting the responsibility on those at a distance from the War Office
and expecting them to bear it. Many of us have been asked to take part
in helping the recruiting. When I was asked to join in this I had in my
mind the feeling to which I gave expression the other day, that I was
not satisfied that too much sacrifice was not being required from those
who are going to fight our battles and that