THE NATIONAL RESERVE.
[To rmx EDITOR or ram .8recrarom."1 SIR, —I was particularly pleased to nee in your issue of April4th a letter on the above subject. It advocates, as I-do, the main- tenance of the National Reserve as a separate department of the War Office under a Commander-in-Chief and Inspecting Staff of its own. This, I think, is a point which, with your special influence, might well be pressed on the notice of the authorities. At present we seem to be nobody's child. The men should receive some recoupment of out-of-pocket expenses, if only 6d. or is. per parade or lecture on their duties as Town Guards. Major Burrowee, of the Royal Irish Fusiliers at Shorncliffe, commanded the Town Guards at Cape Town during the Boer War. If we were more effectively recognized, it would be much easier to raise fends for necessary drill halls, miniature rifle clubs, and social clubs combined. The men are very keen, and bate to feel that no soldierly duties are required of them. The possibilities of the force, if kept in training, are obviously great in the absence of compulsory
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