170 THE EDITOR OF Tax " SPECTATOR."] Szn,—Before Easter of
this year, impelled by the general cry of national inefficiency, I determined to apply for a commission in the Territorial Forces. I bad, further, read of a lack of officers therein. I may mention that my age is twenty-six, and, as far as I know, I am a perfectly suitable candidate in every way. I was given a letter of introduction from an officer who has recently resigned a post in the War Office to Colonel A, who holds a post there in con- nexion with the Territorial Forces. Obtaining an inter- view with Colonel A about ten days before Easter, I was referred by him to another gentleman, Colonel B, who in turn sent me to Captain 0, by whom I was directed to Colonel D. Neither A, B, nor 0 retained any note of my identity, and I merely carried from one to another an increasing dossier of papers, which I left with Colonel D, who said that I should hear from him. All this, I repeat, happened before Easter, and I have heard no more of the matter. Now, Sir, you will see from the above that I have taken some trouble over this business, and I am apparently no nearer my commission. I have had four interviews with four gentlemen, but I have had scarcely any information given me. I have signed one form which has printed across it, " Not binding in any way,"—this form is all I was asked to sign. I have not been enabled to make any application or to fix definitely on any particular corps. The effect of this is that I am not now keen on joining a force which many say is useless, nor one whose system may be such that my experience is typical. Surely, Sir, if it pays the pro- prietors of our monster shops to try to make capital out of the customer's smallest overture, it is reasonable to ask for a system of recruiting such that any wavering desire to serve may be given every opportunity to mature into determination to do so. In one case the capital gained is a few pounds, in the latter national safety. To take a leaf from the book of trade is not, I think, an absurd suggestion. I do not suggest loud advertiserneut, or bands and free lunches in the War Office, but that if the budding Volunteer makes any offer of service, all should be made easy for him, and that his patriotism should not be frozen by inattention.—I am, Sir,
Previous page
