W E trust that the appeal of Lord Roberts to the
British people published in the papers on Monday will meet with an immediate and adequate response. For the last four years, as our readers are aware, we have been labouring to awake the national conscience on the subject of rifle-shooting, both for the Regular Army and for the civilian manhood of the country. Now that the foremost living British soldier has made the same appeal with all the weight of his great services and unrivalled authority, we believe that the matter cannot be left any longer to spasmodic and individual effort. Nothing could be more admirable than the tone of Lord Roberts's argument. He founds it upon the broad grounds of military efficiency and national policy. Every soldier, even the greatest, has his pet fad ; but there is no suspicion of faddism in the simple, direct contentions which he employs. When the long-bow was the English weapon, our infantry was dreaded throughout Europe for its incomparable marksmanship. When smooth-bore firearms with a limited range were introduced, marksman- ship went out of fashion, and drill and discipline became the chief merits of a force. In the Peninsular battles little harm was done by shooting except at the closest ranges, and even a volley was useful mainly as a preparation for a. bayonet attack. But in modern times, to quote Lord Roberts, " skill in marksmanship, owing to the precision of long-range modern weapons, has once more become the all-important factor in war." This has long been the view of the late Commander-in-Chief ; but his South African experience and his recent detailed examination of the South African battlefields have strongly confirmed him in it. And the reason is obvious. In these days of extended formations a soldier is often left to rely upon his own initiative and judgment. If he cannot shoot straight, he is both useless to his side, and also likely to break down in self-reliance, since he will feel himself incapable alike of defence and offence. Men may differ as to the exact ratio of shooting to other soldierly qualities, but the best opinion seems to incline to the view of the American authorities whom Lord Roberts quotes : " In estimating the military efficiency of a soldier, if we consider ten points as a standard of perfection, at least eight of these points are skill in rifle-shooting."
This is one side of the question. The shooting of the Army must be kept at a high level, and this can only be done if national interest in the subject is awakened. But there is another side of equal importance. Our real Army Reserve consists of the Militia, the Yeomanry, and the Volunteers, and in the last resort of the able-bodied man- hood of the country. It is necessary that the first three should be adequately recruited, and it is equally vital that the last should be adequately trained. To quote Lord Roberts again :—" I am satisfied that unless some system of obligatory physical training and instruction in rifle- shooting be enforced in all schools and colleges, and amongst the youth of the country generally, we shall be compelled to resort to conscription in some form or other. For in no other way would it be possible for the very large reserve of men required in the case of a serious war to be provided, so far trained as to warrant their taking their planes in the ranks against a civilised enemy, without what might prove a fatal delay of months in preliminary drill and training in the use of the rifle." When the need comes to improvise an army, we must have the stuff out of which soldiers can be readily made. How is this end to be secured ? The ideal is, of course, com- pulsory instruction in the use of the rifle in all schools, some kind of test by which it will be made clear that each man has reached the standard of marksmanship of which he is capable, and finally facilities for training and practice after manhood is reached. But any such goal can only be reached by stages, and before legislative powers are asked for it would be well to have some existing organisation to use them. Our readers do not need to be reminded of the extent to which rifle clubs have multiplied and flourished in the last few years. The National Rifle Association, founded as long ago as 1860, has done much to encourage rifle-shooting both in these islands and in different parts of the Empire. But it is no disparagement of the work of that admirable body to say that the recently formed Miniature Rifle Clubs Society goes more to the heart of the problem in the aim it sets before itself. For in closely populated districts safe ranges can only be secured by modifying the calibre of the rifle or the nature of the ammunition. Such short- range practice with reduced charges or with miniature ammunition or rifles gives a complete training in practically the whole of marksmanship, save perhaps the art of allowing for a strong wind, which requires a long and open range. There is no rural or city district in Britain where a range of this modest type could not be provided. It is now proposed to amalgamate the two Rifle Associa- tions into one great organisation, and to make a strenuous attempt to carry out a complete scheme of education in marksmanship. And it is in aid of this departure that Lord Roberts's appeal for funds is made.
It is of the first moment that every one should realise the sound sense and the urgent public importance of the proposal. Since rifle-shooting is the primary need of the Army, and therefore of the people as the Army Reserve, it should be made a national pursuit. As every village green in old days had its archery butts, so every village, every town, every ward of a city should have its ranges. At present rifle practice, though in many places enthusiastically followed, is too sporadic, too dependent upon individuals. It is proposed to organise it so that a network of clubs, working on the same lines and directed from one centre, will cover the country. It is not a new departure. Natal has introduced military training into all her schools, which is a step beyond the present proposal, and the United States by means of a national Board is pursuing the same policy. The point to be remembered is that to be successful we must appeal to local patriotism and local rivalries. Organisation is what is needed : county by county, town by town, village by village. To begin with, there must be a central Committee to administer funds and provide stimulus and direction. This should be composed of men whose names carry weight beyond parties and factions as workers for the national well-being. Sub-committees should be established in each county with the Lord-Lieutenant, and in each city with the Mayor, as chairman ; and from such local centres the organisation should radiate out till, in Lord Roberts's words, "every man in the country shall have within his reach the means for practising rifle-shooting as a pastime after his day's work is over, and thus fit himself to take up arms for his country should the need arise." If the thing is to be successful, the opportunity must be brought to every man's door. He must be made to see it as a real pastime, as good a sport as cricket, as well as a duty to his manhood and his country. We sincerely trust that there will be no backwardness in the response to Lord Roberts's appeal, and that when funds are forthcoming the organising work will be strenuously taken up. Britain has always been rich in local patriotism, and in this work it is a vein which will amply repay exploitation.
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