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We publish this morning an appeal by Major R.W. Appleby under authority of His Excellency the Governor calling for volunteers to fill up the ranks of the B.V.R.C. to their full strength. The times and stations at which recruits may be enrolled are duly notified and we can but hope that the manhood of Bermuda will respond to the call of the Empire, in such numbers as will make succeeding generations proud of their forebears when they shall read the connected history of the mighty events now in progress. Let Bermudians be under no misapprehension as to chances involved in this the most tremendous struggle ever seen on this planet. Let them, every man of them, bear in mind that it is either the civilization and the morality for which Great Britain stands, or the brutal tyranny represented by the Kaiser. There is no choice anywhere between. For Bermuda it is either the genial rule of King George under the old Union Jack, or the iron heel of Wilhelm II. For if the German legions win out, lay France bruised and bleeding once more under a murderous penalty, exact a fierce indemnity from Russia, bring even the coffers of Great Britain to an ebb tide and seize the Netherlands ports, there will be money enough in Germanyto build such a navy as for weight, though not perhaps quality, has as never before been seen. Bermuda is too important a base not to excite the cupidity of the All Conqueror if his schemes pan out in accordance with his hopes.
People may enquire "What can bermuda do? It is too weak and small" they say. In reply we say that at a juncture such as this every able-bodied man in the Empire may render his use to the Empire, and we regard it as his plain duty, if he values the proud privilege of his citizenship to add his weight in some capacity to the forces striving so valiantly, so surpassing in courage in intelligence and devotion; but alas! so lamentably deficient in numbers.
Rowland Hill was once in need of funds and human help for a humanitarian enterprise. He made application to a small tradesman for a donation. "I am sure", said the tradesman, "all I could give would not influence the event one way or the other". "Let me relate to you a dream I had the other night" said Rowland Hill. "I was in a strange country and in my passage through remarked innumerable small rills all running in the same direction. I questioned one of them as to where it was going and it replied "I am on my way towards a big canal that is being made". I folowed the course of the rill inquiring what so tiny a thing as it could do, and received replythat it did not know but it was was going to lend its help. On arriving at the canal I was astonished to find a body of water supporting immense merchant ships and helping to carry on the commerce of the world." Bermuda volunteers are not too small to help.
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