We fear that this means chiefly a " spilt-milk "
inquiry which will be almost useless, and that the behaviour of the non-professional troops in the field when contrasted with that of the professional, which is a matter of vital importance for our future military policy, will be considered outside the scope of the inquiry. Yet upon a trustworthy answer to the question whether the Imperial Yeomanry and the service companies of the Volunteers were of value, and, if so, of what value, in the fighting line the foundation of a sound scheme of Imperial defence must rest. We presume, however, that the raising of the Imperial Yeomanry and kindred forces will come within the inquiry. If that is so, the matter should be dealt with very carefully and thoroughly, in order that the mistakes committed may be set up as warnings and some simpler and better machinery suggested for "next time." For example, one would like to know why the names and addresses of all the men—and there were, we imagine, some thirty thousand of these—who were rejected at the first call for the Imperial Yeomanry were not carefully recorded, and why the authori- ties did not keep in touch with these willing men against a possible second emergency. That second emergency did, in fact, arise, but when it did all the work had to be done over again, for the first set of men who failed to get in had been got rid of as useless water is emptied out of a bucket. Such improvidence is worth being inquired into, for out of the in- quiry may come suggestions for avoiding so prodigal a system in the future.
Previous page
