The debate in the House of Lords on Tuesday on
Mr. Haldane's Army projects was chiefly remarkable for an excellent speech by the Duke of Bedford on the problem of the Militia. Mr. Haldane's scheme pointed to a revolution in the constitution of the Militia. The Government appeared to be going to subject them to drafting for the Regulars. This, the Duke declared, would be most unpopular with the Militia, for it would make them a mere Reserve, and would destroy the battalions as units. Mr. Haldane had himself in March last condemned the principle of drafting as opposed to using the Militia battalions as units. "I should like," said Mr. Haldane, "to see the Militiaman used, not in the disastrous manner he was used until a very short time ago. That was the system under which the Militia was first bled white for the Regular Army, and then asked to go in their depleted battalions to fight. It was fatal to the Militia, and it has never recovered." It came, therefore, in the nature of a surprise to the Militia that his Majesty's Government in July proposed to establish the exact system of service for the whole Militia which was condemned by the Secretary of State for War in March as fatal for the Militia when applied to a section of that force.
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