THE NATION AND THE ARMY.
The Nation and the Army. By Major Roper-Caldbeck. (Grant Richards. 2s. 6d. net.)—Major Roper-Caldbeck has produced a useful and suggestive little book dealing with the military problems of the day. Most of the essays have already appeared either as lectures or in pamphlet form, and the reason for their reproduction is that their author does not feel that Mr. Haldane's administration has given us a proper degree of security. The basis of his accusation is that Mr. Haldane returned to the Cardwellian system, which had already broken down owing to the rapid expansion of our Empire. The author is no advocate of compulsion, and his own solution of our peculiar military problem consists principally in the establishment of a First Line, or Regular Army, which is to be divided into two categories. In the first category are to be men enlisted for nineteen years, in the second category short-service men who are to be passed rapidly into the Reserve. Recognising that men cannot be kept for nineteen years unless ample provision is made for their subsequent life, Major Roper-Caldbeck has devised an ingenious system of pension by insurance, for which he claims both efficiency and economy.. Without going into details, it may be said that Major Roper- C .1dbeck's book will prove of value to many people who are not altogether able to accept his conclusions.
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