In the House of Lords on Tuesday the Duke of
Bedford called attention to the condition of the Militia in a very able and suggestive speech. The general effect of his words was to show the absurdity of the Secretary of State for War, and our military authorities generally, denouncing the Militia as useless or redundant, when the War Office never lifted a finger to improve the Militia, but actually refused to give facilities to Militia officers to attend courses of instruction. The Duke of Bedford, we are glad to see, is as strongly opposed as we are to the creation of a new territorial army, but in favour, as we have always been, of improving the Militia and making it what it should be,—an efficient force composed of men who are civilians the greater part of the year, but who in national emergencies can be depended upon in the future, as in the past, to answer the nation's call. Lord Donoughmore, speaking for the Govern- ment, put the best face he could on the matter, and announced a Bill under which in future the Militia will be enlisted for service abroad. We understand the arguments for such a proposal, but at the same time we think that there is a great deal to be said for the Duke of Bedford's objections to such a course. He would prefer that the men should still be given the option of volunteering for foreign service. Probably the result would be the same in both cases,—i.e., the men would all volunteer. But if this is so, it might be better not to make foreign service obligatory. Englishmen do not like to bind themselves in advance even to do things which they are sure to do.
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