THE SURREY REGISTER OF TRAINED MEN.

THAT the Territorial Reserve and the Technical Reserve

will be successful organisations ca.nuot be doubted, for the War Office either has, or very soon will have, the human material completely under control. A month ago it would have been necessary to admit that though it was possible that the veterans would give a patriotic response to the appeal to register themselves, no one could venture to say so with absolute confidence. Fortunately the success of the Surrey Territorial Association in its attempt to form a register enables us to say that the Veteran Reserve is sure to prove of immense value, and should ultimately provide a reservoir of a hundred thousand, and possibly two hundred thousand, trained men. Though the Surrey Territorial Association has had difficulties many and great to contend with, though it has only been able as yet to reach the veterans in its area by appeals through the newspapers, and though, as is notorious, men are very slow to hear of such appeals, the Association has already obtained the names of nearly a thousand men. Of these, no doubt, some three or. four hundred are men who are not, strictly speaking, resident within the administrative county of Surrey, but belong geographically to the county of London. In spite, how- ever, of these very natural mistakes, the Association has already got the names of nearly six hundred men who fulfil all the requirements as to place of residence, service, and age, and fresh names are coining in at so satisfactory a rate that it can hardly be doubted that by the end of September the register will contain the names of well-nigh a thousand fully eligible men.

We have been allowed by Colonel Ringwood, the able and energetic( secretary of the Surrey County Association, who with his staff have thrown themselves into the difficult work of the preparation of the register with the utmost enthusiasm, to look through the letters and postcards which they have received.. The result of such inspection is most encouraging. It shows not only how valuable is the military material that has hitherto been allowed to run to waste, but it gives proof also of the energy, patriotism, and alertness of our old soldiers and old Volunteers. The number of men with war service who are still in the prime of life is most remarkable. To turn over the postcards is to read in epitome the military history of the last fifteen or twenty years. Indian frontier expeditions, the Egyptian War, actions in the Soudan, actions in West and East Africa, as well as the South African War, are all set down with a military curtness and directness which are deeply moving in their reticence. The postcards give witness of what manner of mon are they who send in their addresses from small suburban roads encumbered with all the ridiculous and romantic nomenclature invented by the speculative builder. The men who live in Herna.ni Villas, Kandahar Terrace, or Arratonga Road have, however, nothing ridiculous about them or their service. They are the men who bore the heat and burden of the day in Indian passes and on Indian wastes, from Mandalay to Tibet, from Tibet to Chitral, from Chitral to Beluchistan ; who tramped the narrow footpaths of African forests ; who endured the cold by night and the heat by day of the veld; who suffered the bitterness of Colenso or Vaal Krantz, or felt the exultation of Elandslaagte, Belmont, or Pieters Hill. The postcards, too, show in a very striking way the democratic side of the Army. Here is a man who has served as an officer in the Life Guards, a millionaire, a county magnate, and there a full private, who, though fortune never put him in the way of promotion, is yet as keen to join the register as his more fortunate comrades. So keen, indeed, are some of them that if they are approaching the age of fifty, the limit for registration, they add such expressions as " Never felt better in my life," or " Never had a. day's illness."

But, after all, such good wine as that of the Surrey register needs no bush. Before leaving the subject, however, we will quote two letters and two typical postcards. They show the kind of military material which has all these years been lying ready to the hand of the War Office, but has hitherto been absolutely neglected. Remember that the 113,1119 and address of not one of these veterans have ever been recorded at any depit or headquarters. The War Office have always made a practice of losing touch completely with the men they had trained. The names were only obtained or obtainable by an appeal in the Press, an appeal which not only the Surrey Press but the London newspapers made in the most helpful and patriotic way :— "— —, Surrey. DEAR SIR,—In answer to your letter that was published in the Free Press a week or two ago, and being greatly interested in military matters, I now send the particulars you require :-

(1) A— B—.

(2) The Rifle Brigade (Prince Contort's Own).

(3) Twelve years with the Colours.

(4) I served in the 1898 Soudan Campaign, being present at the battle of Khartoum. Served in Crete during the disturbance there ; and served right throughout the South African War, taking part in the defence of Ladysmith, battle of Laing's Nek, and the battle of Belfast. Total service abroad being nine years and a half out of the twelve years' service.

(5) Lance-Corporal.

(6) Age, thirty-six years. I am, Sir, &c., "— —, Surrey.

C— D—.

Late let Gordon Highlanders.

Foreign service —nine years.

Active—Chitral, 1895; Tochi Valley, 1896-7; Tirah Expedition; Punjaub Frontier, 1897-8; South Africa, 1898-1902.

Clasps :—Chitral, 1895; Punjaub Frontier ; Tirah ; Relief of

Kimberley ; Paardeberg; Johannesburg ; Diamond Hill; Wittenbergau; South Africa, 1901, 1902.

Age, thirty-seven. Total service, thirteen years."

— Surrey.

E— F—.

Prince Alfred's Volunteer Guards. Port Elisabeth. South Africa. Four years. Anglo-Boer War. Medal and four clasps. Corporal (held Sergeant's certificate). Age. twenty-nine."

" Sia,—In response to your appeal, I forward my list of services. I served from the year 1890 to 1904 in 7th Royal Fusiliers and

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Royal Garrison Regiment (India, Malta, and South Africa). Also South African War, 1899-1902.

Age, thirty-nine.

Surrey."

We may remark that the men who sent in their names to the Surrey register fully realised that there was nothing whatever to be got out of doing so. Their motive was purely love of their country. It is a proof of bow excellent a school of patriotism is the Regular Army, and our military forces generally. To conclude, the Surrey register gives proof, if proof were needed, that the success of the Veteran Reserve now decided upon by the Secretary of State for War and his Council is assured, and will add very greatly to our military security.

G— H—.