Craven Gentleman’s Russian Experiences
We hear so very little of the state of feeling in Russia
with respect to the war that the opinion of Mr. H.G. Tunstill of Otterburn, as
expressed to the writer, is more than ordinarily interesting. Mr. Tunstill,
with Mrs. Tunstill, arrived at St. Petersburg – or ‘Petersburg’ as it is
universally termed in that country – on July 27th. When they left,
on Tuesday August 11th, Europe was at war. The enthusiasm of Russia
is beyond verbal expression – as Mr. Tunstill says, you must see it and live
amongst it to grasp its significance. The Russians are in deep and deadly
earnest – they regard the war as a holy war, and the spectacle of the Czar,
from the steps of his palace, giving his troops the command to press forward
and resist the treacherous designs of Germany, and the response of the men, as
they knelt in the palace square to receive their Sovereign’s blessing, is one
that Mr. Tunstill says can never be forgotten.
We have no conception of the huge resources of the Russian
Empire in men and equipment. The first mobilisation was said to be complete on
August 6th and 4,000,000 men were ready for action. The second
mobilisation began on August 8th and would take three weeks to
complete the second army of 3,000,000 men. When Mr. Tunstill left Petersburg
the third mobilisation, of 3,000,000 men was going forward, making a total of
10,000,000 men, all animated with the one determination to bring Germany to her
knees for her stupendous and criminal folly of upsetting the peace of Europe.
Craven Must Not Lag Behind
If this spirit of duty to the common cause of civilisation
animates Russia, it must never be said that Craven lags behind. It is the
manifest and paramount duty of every young man who is eligible to offer himself
at the nearest recruiting station and take his share in laying the German viper
low. Skipton is leading the way; the towns and villages in the district are
following suit; and I have no doubt that Mr. Tunstill’s appeal to the young men
of the Settle district, the terms of which appear in this week’s Craven Herald,
will meet with a response creditable to the traditions of the district and
appreciative of the justness of the end in view. Mr. Tunstill asks for a
company, including himself, of 100 men for Lord Kitchener’s army. I should not
be surprised if, knowing the sturdy loyalty of the sons of Craven yeomen to
King and Empire, the number is not quadrupled.
Outdoor meetings are being arranged at the following places
and at the times stated below:
Monday Sept 7th – Settle at 8pm
Tuesday Sept 8th – Hellifield at 7.30 pm
Wednesday Sept 9th – Longpreston at 7.30 pm
Thursday Sept 10th – Airton 7.30 pm; Kirkby
Malham 9pm
Friday Sept 11th – Giggleswick 7.30 pm;
Stainforth 9pm
Saturday Sept 12th – Arncliffe, 7.30 pm
Monday Sept 14th – Bolton by Bowland 7.30 pm
Tuesday Sept 15th – Gisburne 7.30 pm
Wednesday Sept 16th – Sawley 7.30 pm; Grindleton
9 pm
Thursday Sept 17th – Slaidburn 7.30 pm
Friday Sept 18th – Waddington 7.30 pm
Saturday Sept 19th – Final meeting at Settle at
7.30 pm, giving the names and result of this fortnight’s work.
Monday Sept 21st – Assembly of the Company at the
Headquarters at Skipton for medical inspection and signing of papers.
A CALL TO CRAVEN
It is a sad confession to make, but it is undoubtedly true,
that in enlightened Craven there are some who do not thoroughly grasp the
causes that have brought about the greatest war the world has ever seen. No
one, looking at the history of comparatively recent events, can or will deny
that Germany has been preparing for this war for twenty years or more and our
soldiers and sailors have been aware of it. Her one and only aim is the Emoire
of Europe, and to attain this end, it is necessary that she should crush her
rivals, France and Great Britain. France has given Germany no cause to pick a
quarrel, neither has Great Bruitain nor Belgium, but, assuming that England and
Ireland were on the verge of civil, and that there was unrest among our
industrial population, Germany decided that “The Day” so often toasted at her
Army mess dinners had arrived. Thus, when the Austrian Archduke and his wife
were murdered by a fanatic, Germany seized the opportunity to plunge Europe
into war. Austria, obeying Germany, invaded Servia; Russia could not stand by
and see Servia, her friend, oppressed; and Germany attempoted to invade France
through Belgium merely because France was Russia’s ally. We, Great Britain,
could only do what any decent boy at school does when a big bully fights his
friend – we went for the bully.
It is a tremendous task. It means that we Britons, unless we
are victorious, will become the slaves of Germany and a military tyranny we
detest, and that we shall be crushed under the heel of a people who hate us.It
means that if Germany succeeds in invading our shores the unspeakable
atrocities that have taken place in Belgium – the burning of towns and
villages, the shooting of civilians, the torturing of old men, women and
children – will be enacted here. Is there an able-bodied man in Craven, with
the opportunity of using a rifle and the manliness of his forbears, who can
hesitate a moment when considering his duty – his King and country or self and dalliance
at home? We refuse to believe it. There is only one way to avoid the
catastrophe alluded to – we must send every man we can to fight and crush the
German despoiler. For the last ten years Lord Roberts has been as a voice
crying in the wilderness, but we have refused to give heed. Fortunately it is
not too late to withstand the despotism of the inhuman oppressor. Men must join
at once and prepare to take their share in this righteous battle.
The editor had previously expressed some concern over the lack of volunteers from the district, but was now able to strike a more positive note:
BRISK RECRUITING AT SKIPTON
During the past few days there has been a welcome
improvement in the recruiting for Lord Kitchener’s new army. The stirring
appeals made by Colonel Thorold last week have been supplemented by some
energetic work on the part of Captain Tee, who has charge of the Skipton depot,
and there are indications that the young men of the district have realised their
duty to King and country and are determined to do it.
Scenes of animation have been witnessed at the Drill Hall,
where the necessary medical and other formalities have been gone through by Dr.
J.E. Fisher and Mr. L. Kidd. All sorts and conditions have presented themselves
for enlistment – fitters, quarrymen, stonemasons, mill operatives, labourers,
shop assistants and clerks – though the last two classes were much fewer in
proportion than any of the others. Generally speaking, the men were of good physique
and it is gratifying to be able to announce that a very small proportion were
rejected as unfit.
A good many were young, but on the other hand quite a number
had seen service with regular units. One man had served seven years with the
colours and five on the reserve. He also had six brothers at the front – three
in the army and three in the navy – and informed the recruiting officer he
wished to be able to say “We are seven”. Another had spent twelve years with
the colours and seen service in India
For the most part employers of labour too are doing all they
can to encourage recruiting. We hear of private tradesmen who have offered to
pay their assistants half wages while on service and keep their situations
open, while similar inducements are being held out by the majority of the large
concerns.
The departures from Skipton for Lord Kithchener’s army this
week have been: Saturday 27; Monday 55; Tuesday 41; Wednesday 35; Thursday 17.
They have all been given a hearty send-off.
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