25 NOVEMBER 1916, Page 3

Lord French made some exceptionally interesting remarks during his inspections

of Volunteers last Sunday. He said that the Govern- ment could not possibly spend money on arms and equipment so long as it was open to the Volunteers to end their service at a fort- night's notice. They would soon be asked for their decision on this matter. But the Volunteers should not suppose that they could not fit themselves for the field even though they had not rifles. The days were past when the ideal of the soldier was simply to become a " first-class shot." To-day machine guns, grenades, and bayonets vied in importance with the rifle. There was no reason or excuse for the Volunteers to stand still while they were waiting for equipment.