COUNTY GUARDS.
[TO TUE EDITOR. Or PUS " SPROCAT011.1 SIE,—Permit ins to congratulate you on the Spectator article of the 1st inst. on the subject of "County Guards." The suggestion comes very opportunely, and has been at once seized on by one of the Council of the National Rifle Associa- tion, who invited correspondence thereon in the Morning Post of the 6th inst. It is, however, only as an integral part of County Association responsibilities that this suggestion can be dealt with. Allow me to offer a few criticisms, suggestions, and additions to your scheme.
(a) Registration.—Easily arranged for, as in the case of Army Reservists, through depot paymasters. Twelve-year men as above—ex-Volunteers through their commanding officers ; addresses being notified by the departmental and other officers concerned to County Associations.
(b) Uniform..—Tbis would be absolutely necessary. The con- cessions made to Boer combatants would not be admissible in European warfare. Non-uniformed combatants are asogreat a nuisance to their own side as to the enemy. Permission to retain their uniform on leaving the Territorial Force would solve this question for that class of County Guard.
(c) Arms, Equipment, &c.—A glance at the mobilisation stores for Reservists at any regimental depot would solve the problem. An increase in the Reserve mobilisation stores of Territorial battalions would simplify the question.
(d) Transport and Supply.—Could be arranged for by com- manding officers of County Guards by local contracts as now done by Volunteer commanding officers.
(e) Officers.—These ranks could also be registered and avail- able. Every county is full of retired officers of experience and sufficient physical energy to do this duty very well.
(f) Training.—Eaoh county brigade could take extra tents, &c., to its annual camp, and County Guards could be mustered there by double companies for three days for each party on the same financial and other terms as the county brigade.
(g) Rendezvous.—The headquarters of Territorial battalions would naturally be the rendezvous as well as the storehouses of these County Guards, who would automatically reinforce the depots of those units as they took the field.
(h) Military Uses.—These Guards would be invaluable (1) to protect railways, bridges, arsenals, 8r..c., in the county ; (2) to stiffen the county authorities in case of disorder, which might well occur as the result of adverse events in the field force ; (3) as escorts to convoys by road or rail from rear to front; (4) as protection and help to navvies in the construction of second and third lines of defence, thus liberating younger troops for field duties.
The whole -problem needs, of course, official sanction and
support from headquarters to prevent overlapping, omissions, and want of unity.—I am, Sir, &c.,
IN UTRUMQUE PARATUS.
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