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<p>[Page 14]</p><p>by the Kaiser:</p><p>I have awarded the Iron Cross to all my never-to-be-forgotten subjects who have voted “no”. Wilhelm. </p><p>Just how much they were hoping for a favourable outcome became clear when Governor-General Ferguson proclaimed on Sept. 29 that all unmarried men, or widowers without children, aged between 21 and 35 had to enlist for home defence. A huge number enlisted and will have to be discharged now. According to Reuters, the German newspapers are jubilant and predict that England will be left in the lurch by its dominions. I do think that if Germany indeed believes this, it is mistaken. Sure, the negative outcome of the referendum is a heavy blow for the government and it may well be that Premier Hughes and his cabinet will have to resign; but the point is not that the voters damn the war, but that they don’t want conscription. It should not be compulsory to fight at the front, but rather an individual’s own decision</p>