But we want not less urgently a larger
supply of ex-non-commissioned officers, and the pick of the men with
whom in past days they served, men, therefore, whom in most cases we
shall be asking to give up regular employment and to return to the work
of the State, which they alone are competent to do. The appeal we make
is addressed quite as much to their employers as to the men themselves.
The men ought to be absolutely assured of reinstatement in their
business at the end of the war. [Cheers.] Finally, there are numbers of
commissioned officers now in retirement who are much experienced in the
handling of troops and have served their country in the past. Let them
come forward, too, and show their willingness, if need be, to train
bodies of men for whom at the moment no cadre or unit can be found.
Abundant Ground for Pride and Confidence.
I have little more to say. Of the actual progress of the war I will not
say anything, except that in my judgment in whatever direction we look
there is abundant ground for pride and for confidence. [Cheers.] I say
nothing more, because I think we should all bear in mind that we are at
present watching the fluctuations of fortune only in the early stages of
what is going to be a protracted struggle.
Pages:
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
322
323
324
325
326
327
328
329
330
331