In the Commons on Monday Mr. Haldane stated in detail
the arrangement sketched by him a week ago under which the threatened abolition of the Militia is to be prevented. Shortly, the new proposals come to this. In Ireland the Militia battalions will form eight third battalions,—the third battalions performing those functions which Mr. Haldane, bad previously allocated to his special Reserve. Behind these eight third battalions there will be twelve fourth battalions, which as a rule will act as unite, replacing Regular battalions or acting on lines of communication. In England and Scot- land, out of the existing Militia battalions, seventy-four will be turned into third battalions, and twenty-seven will become fourth battalions. The third battalions will have an establish- ment of five hundred men with a large staff of officers, and the fourth battalions will have an establishment of eight hundred. The Militia under the new scheme will, of course, be taken out of the Territorial Army. They will, said Mr. Haldane, though retaining the name of Militia and the sentiment and associations, be a part of the Regular Army.
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