20 MAY 1905, Page 3

The Prince of Wales opened the new headquarters of the

1st Cadet Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) at Hampstead on Monday, and made a most sensible and valuable speech. He had been much im- pressed during his visit to the Colonies by the vigorous development of the Cadet movement which our brethren overseas were ready to encourage, "not with a view of militarising the populations, but in order to give training in physical exercises and discipline, and in the art of shooting, sufficient to make every one feel that be is developing into a man, and that, at all events, he may be of some use should his services ever be required in the defence of his country." In conclusion, he endorsed the view expressed in the opening words of the Memorandum recently published by the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia : " The training of the young is the foundation of every sound system of national defence." It is an immense satis-: faction to us to see that the Prince of Wales is taking up the question of national training as opposed to national service. His action will, we hope, lift the question out of the region of party politics and make it a national one. The Prince of Wales is wisely reticent on many questions, but when he does speak he• says the thing that wants saying.