In preference for voluntary men,
Lasting for a century -
British army had used campaigns
To build all armed forces.
Then with new war, an initial call
Had exceeded 100,000 -
Bands, women and comedians
Had all prompted men.
After twelve months new armies
Readied; with divisions
Tested all prepared for the field -
Which Lord Kitchener
Advised the House of Commons.
Wednesday 15 September 1915,
Heard the allied font
In the west, remained almost
Unchanged - not to say
Relaxed - with strengthened lines.
Lord Kitchener reminded them,
That despite the new army
Prepared and equipped to fight,
Still many more recruits
For 1916, would be needed.
The fact of the Registration Act
Passed - whereby women
And men had to register their
Residence - such results
Allowed to calculate resources.
Lord Kitchener, in reference
To this said that would
Show possible numbers for army
And munitions needs -
In a lead towards conscription.
Without admittance to what
Might happen, Kitchener
Promoted future requirements
Of the military and how
To meet national obligations.
At the same time of suggested
Agendas, the trade union
Congress made its opposition,
To compulsory military
Services, in answer to views.
The committee was overseen
By Mr. W. C. Anderson
On the same day as Kitchener's
Summary, gave unified
Agitation in a subversive press.
by Jamie Mann.
Anon.,1915. Lord
Kitchener on the War's Progress - Our New Armies - Front Extended - Still More
Men Needed. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 16 September. P.9. Col.7. Available
at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11863839/Daily-Telegraph-September-16-1915.html
[Accessed: 16 September
2015].
Mann, J., 2015. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal
communication, 16 September 2015).
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