The Times Great War Letters: Correspondence during the First World War. James Owen
for that is the object of war? Is this new Government going to tackle this business on the same ridiculous principles of voluntary service as heretofore, or in the only way in which it can be tackled with any certain hope of ultimate success? Is it going to tell the nation at once that we can’t win this war, and shall uselessly sacrifice thousands of lives, unless the Government has the power given to it to call upon the services of every single man, woman, and child, if need be, for whatever each individual is most capable of doing directly or indirectly for the accomplishment of the one object before us—the smashing of the enemy? The men at the front are waiting for the answer, and so are thousands of men and women here at home.
THE ONLY WAY
I say “the only way,” and for the following reasons:—
1. If the men at the front know that they have got the nation at their back, there need be no fear lest they will ever lose one iota of the glorious spirit which, in spite of lack of guns, has so far kept the enemy from our gate. They will wait, and wait gladly, for what they so sorely need, if only they know that at last this business is being taken seriously in hand.
2. It is the only way, for only so can our Commanders-in-Chief at sea and in the field lay their plans of campaign with any certainty that they will be able to carry them out. As it is now, it is simply a matter of fighting as best you can from hand to mouth. When the Government knows that they can call on all the resources of men and material, then, and then only, can they lay their plans for certain production at definite times. Only so can they be able to tell the Commanders-in-Chief what they can expect, and when.
3. It is the only way, because it is the height of impudent folly to imagine that we are as a nation so miraculously endowed by the Almighty that we, and we alone of all nations in the world, can prosecute such a war as we are engaged in to a successful issue without calling on the whole resources of the nation. At present we are treating it as a sort of “side show” to the real business of life, which must be kept going “as usual.” Besides, it is not playing the game by our Allies. They are keeping nothing back; we are.
4. It is the only way, because only so will the nation get the greatest efficiency out of its individual members. As it is, many men are now serving at the front who ought to be serving at home, and vice versa. The present method of “go or not as you please” is utterly haphazard and unbusinesslike, and therefore hopelessly inadequate.
5. It is the only way, because an essential factor in the successful prosecution of the war is that the right spirit should animate not only the men at the front, but the nation at their back. It is only the right spirit which will be able to bear the strain and see this thing through to a finish.
To-day the right spirit is lacking because the conscience of the nation is uneasy. As individuals we do not know whether we are doing the right thing or not—whether we should go on with our ordinary work or offer to go and fight. We are afraid of indulging in wholly innocent amusement. We are afraid even of having a really healthy laugh—somehow we feel it would not be right. People are getting gloomy and depressed, not because they have any fear as to the ultimate end of the war (they do not know enough about the real situation for that), not because they are not ready to face, and face gallantly, the sacrifices which war has laid upon them to make, but because their consciences are not at rest. You cannot have the right spirit if your conscience is uneasy.
A NATION UNDER ORDERS
That is why the men at the front have the right spirit. They are so gloriously cheery because their consciences are at rest. They know they have done and are doing the right thing. They have made the great surrender. They have burnt their boats behind them and put themselves under orders. Nothing matters except to “do their bit” when they are told to. When they are not wanted they have no silly scruples about enjoying themselves, the best they can. When the whole nation knows itself to be under orders, and knows that it is doing the right thing, we shall see the same spirit of gay surrender at home; and this spirit is essential. All we want is a lead, and a strong and fearless lead.
But will the nation stand it? Politics again! Well, if it won’t, it will have to stand something infinitely more distasteful before very long. But of course the nation will stand it. The nation will welcome it with both hands, once it is given a lead, once all are treated alike, once it is told the truth—not half-truths, which are worse than lies, but the real truth—that though we are holding the enemy through the indomitable spirit and the reckless self-sacrifice of our troops, we cannot and never shall be able to crush them until we provide our fighting men with a preponderance of munitions of war over and above the apparently ample and undiminished supply of the enemy. Advancing a few yards, or retiring a few miles, or merely holding the enemy—this is not going to win the war. It may produce a peace in the long run; but it will be a peace made in Germany and not of British manufacture.
The nation will welcome national service because the temper of the nation is different from what it was. Recent events have clearly shown, even to the most phlegmatic, that we are in a perfectly real sense up against the Devil incarnate. What else is it when we are fighting against an enemy who will stop at nothing, however mean and cruel and disgusting—an enemy who will use gas, sink Lusitanias, put arsenic in running streams, and sow disease? Mere abuse won’t tame this Devil or drive him out, but a nation serving will. National Service will be welcomed once the nation learns the truth that thousands of the finest and most gallant lives that the Empire has ever produced are being thrown away because the nation has not yet realized that it is at war.
There is only one way to make the nation realize this fact, and that is by bringing every member of it under the direct orders of the State for one purpose, and one purpose only. Nothing else matters to-day.
Yours faithfully,
MICHAEL FURSE, Bishop of Pretoria
On the day that Furse’s letter was published, Asquith addressed concerns about the progress of the war by reconstituting his government as a coalition, with Lloyd George at the head of a new Ministry of Munitions.
BATTLE SHOCK
26 May 1915
SIR,—YOUR MEDICAL Correspondent, in an article in to-day’s issue, makes kindly reference to the hospital at 10, Palace-green opened for officers suffering from battle shock—due to the foresight of Dr. Maurice Wright. I should like to report progress, as the public were good enough to trust me with £10,000 to start, and run, this hospital, and many people have written since to ask me about it. The hospital, after it became known, has always been full, and so insistent has been the demand for further accommodation that we were compelled to start a second hospital. This was not easy to do in London, as the absolute essentials to successful treatment are complete quiet and isolation. The difficulty was solved by the most generous gift by Mr. R. Leicester Harmsworth, M.P., of his furnished house, Moray Lodge, Campden-hill. The conditions are ideal—a large house standing in lovely grounds of four acres or more. This has now been opened for 33 patients. More than 100 officers have passed through 10, Palace-green, and with but very few exceptions all have recovered from the effects of this shock of battle. Dr. Aldren Turner, acting for the Director-General, has completed an organization so that the officers are sent direct from the front to Palace-green, which has been very helpful towards their recovery. I have money enough to run the two hospitals for nine months more. I feel sure that the public will not allow this work to stop for want of money.
Yours truly,
KNUTSFORD
“THE TIMES” IN THE TRENCHES
CONTENTS BILL RIDDLED WITH GERMAN BULLETS
1 June 1915
A soldier writes from “somewhere in France” under date