On Monday the War Office published papers dealing with the
Territorial and Reserve Forces Act, and containing (1) a " model scheme " for establishing County Associations ; (2) suggestions as to the first steps to be taken towards the formation of County Associations ; (3) provisional notes on the formation and functions of County Associations. The papers have been sent to all Lords-Lieutenant of counties, who are to be Presidents of the County Associations. Each Associa- tion will be in effect what the administrative General at headquarters is to the Regular Army; it will raise its men and be responsible for them in every way, clothing and equipping them and providing them with all the means of their training. Only when they go into camp will they be temporarily controlled and maintained by the General Officer Commanding. It is
impossible to summarise the " model scheme," or the " sugges- tions" and "provisional note," which must be read bodily to be properly understood. The general intention of the War Office, however, is clearly that the Associations, while having much authority, shall be kept in close communication with the Army Council. We hope the scheme will suit the genius of our people, though we must not forget that the very persons who will be in the chief positions in the Associations already do a good deal of county work. Fortunately, the money question need not for the moment trouble us, as Mr. Haldane believes he has enough in hand for the purpose.
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