18 JULY 1914, Page 24

The Training of the Territorial Scout. By Lieutenant as regards

explanatory detail, which must be looked for in the books referred to at the head of each chapter. Such si

mistake is often made, especially in publications of this kind, and it means that anyone who wishes to acquire or impart knowledge of the subject must supply himself with a small library of books, official and otherwise, before he can do so. In the first two chapters Lieutenant Foot seems to have based his ideas of the training of infantry scouts on the assumption that battalions have their companies distributed over a very small area, and that those companies are likewise situated in close proximity to their headquarters. He does not seem to realize to what great disadvantages battalions and companies are put when, owing to the inadequacy of travelling facilities, it is extremely difficult for them to get to their respective headquarters. In such circumstances, it is impos- sible for the best selection to be made from either the battalion or company, and the result is that only those who are at the headquarters are trained, and not those who may possess the natural gift for scouting, which is absolutely necessary for a good scout.