2 NOVEMBER 1912, Page 31

[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."] SIR, — Perhaps you can offer

me some advice in the following circumstances, as it seems to me others must be in a similar difficulty. I am the father of a boy, age seventeen, who has just left one of our public schools (Glenalmond). Before entering him on a business career I am willing and desirous he should have a six months' course of military training such as is provided by "The Special Reserve." If, however, be enters this he has afterwards to serve for twenty-seven days each year. As the usual holiday for boys in, say, a bank is fourteen days, this is No. 1 difficulty. Of course, the boy can join the Territorials, but in this case he gets no preliminary training. Is there no arrangement possible at present for a boy of, say, seventeen or eighteen so that he could get six months' military training and then join the Territorials and do his week, or fortnight if possible, in camp each year afterwards, and do all this in a not unreasonably extravagant way P It should not be necessary, for instance, to scrap a complete rig-out of uniform when going from his six months' training to join the Territorials.—I am, Sir, &c., F. G. [If the policy of the National Service League were adopted our correspondent would be exactly suited. As it is there is no method of getting the training desired. When, however, the British Boys' Training Corps, of which we gave an account last week, is established, as we hope it soon may be, "F. G." should be able to find a way out. We suggest his communicating with the Hon. Secretary, Mr. J. C. Medd, 37 Russell Square, London, W.C.—En. Spectator.]