24 AUGUST 1901, Page 3

Tuesday's Gazette contains a despatch - from Lord Kitchener, dated July

9th, giving an account of the progress of his Operations. As to the new Yeomanry—i.e., the force despatched in the spring—he declares that a large' number of them could not be put in the field when they arrived because they could neither ride nor shoot 'Some .few had to be sent home, including, we believe, a certain number of officers, " but satisfactory progress has been made and is being made, and they are gradually gaining experience in the field." We believe that as far. as material went the men of the new Yeomanry, though untrained, were sound enough, but the officers, chosen in a hurry, were in many cases quite unsuitable for the work. The. fact that the melt -could- MA* shoot is a very strong arguinentforthe rifle club movement. If the country a year ago had been covered with a network of rifle clubs, as it will be in another year's time, it is safe to say that all the men in question would have been able to shoot moderately well, for the man. ho enlists in war is just the sort of man who joins a rifle club in peace time.