[To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR.] SIR,—I am greatly interested
in " Janus' " note last week upon the fact that there is considerable shortage of recruits for the Army notwithstanding the great advantages offered to any young man who joins it. In a book published by Hodder and Stoughton some three years ago under the title From the Bench I devoted a whole chapter to this subject, describing in detail what has been done for the training and civil employment of sailors, soldiers and airmen by the National Association founded for this purpose as long ago as 1885. In 1932 the numbers for whom civil employment was found by this Association amounted to 17,850. The advantage of treating the Services consciously and definitely as a means- of training for civil employment is so great that I believe the deficiency of recruits is now due to ignorance of what is entailed by joining any one of the Services. I would with your permission summarize the advantages as follows : a young man who enlists knows from the start that he will not only be made fit beyond his fellows and given a chance of 'seeing the world under the best auspices, but that if he' behaves himself well during his service he will not only be trained for any form of civil employment which he may choose, but he will also have the best possible chance of finding employment as soon as he is ready for it.—I remain, Sir, with great respect, yours, faithfully, CECIL CHAP3IAN. The Athenaeum, Pall Moll, S. W. 1.
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