The " rounding-up " methods adopted by the War Office
having called forth a good deal of criticism and protest, an official statement was issued in Wednesday's papers. Allegations had been received at the War Office and in the Commons from practically all the large centres of population to the effect that large numbers of young men had escaped registration and, unknown to the military authorities, were evading service. It was accordingly urged upon the War Office that so long as they were allowed to remain in civil life through the laxity of the recruiting department, it was grossly unfair to draw on the older groups and classes. The so-called " round-up " had therefore been carried out to test the accuracy of these allegations by examining certificates of exemption held by men of military age; but so far the result had been to show that, where the test was applied, the allegations were without foundation. The War Office give a perfectly sound reason for the raids. After all, it hurts no one to ba made to show his exemption papers.
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