LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
THE VOLUNTEERS AND THE EXPLOSION. (To VIM EDITOR or TIE " SPECTATOR.") SIR,—It will, I am sure, be interesting to yourself and your readers to learn something of the good work which is continually being done by the National Motor Volunteers, whose status has recently been officially recognized, and whose numbers throughout England and Wales are increasing continually. The most recent and valuable work done by this branch of the Volunteer Forces was that which was rendered to the authorities in connexion with. the terrible disaster in the East End of London on Friday, January 19th. Within less than an hour from the time at which the noise of the explosion was heard a very considerable number of motor-ears and motor-ambulances were mobilized and placed at the disposal of the authorities. A full account with details would, I fear, be out of place in anything less than an official despatch, and would be open to objection. There can, however, be no harm in stating in general terms some of the Work per- formed.
For two days and nights the motor-cars and ambulances of these Volunteers were busy on the scene of the explosion. Tho drivers and orderlies were some of them on continuous duty for over twenty hours during those two days and nights, under all the strain of the terrible surroundings and all the discomforts of the weather. They not only conveyed a large number of police to the scene, but they also removed many dead and wounded, and assisted to reader first-aid to the wounded. Among the units which were so strenuously employed in rendering assistance were the London National Motor Volunteers and the London Volunteer Rifles. The latter corps also carried out fire brigade duties. It will be of interest to notice also that the Women's Reserve Ambulance Corps, which is attached to the National Motor Volueteere, took part in this good work. Being on the spot etpsystlf, in another capacity, I can speak from what I personally saw, and also from the reports which I have read. It is hard fol any one to realize, who does not know the organization of these Volunteer Corps, that it should be possible to mobilize a fleet of motor-ears and ambulances in -such a short period es an hour so as to enable them to be placed at the full disposal of the authori- ties. You may like to know, and the public may like to know, that the National Meter Volunteers have mobilized with cleat', despatch on previous occasions, notably in the case of Zeppelin raids. Great credit, I think you will agree, is due to those who organized and to those who took part in the work I have described in such general terms. Any of your readers who mayk be interested in these matters will, I am sure, obtain full, information as to the National Motor Volunteers on application to the Headquarters of the Central Association Volunteer Regi- ments in the Judges' Quadrangle at the Royal Courts of Justice, W.C., from the Secretary of the National Motor Volunteers:7s
[We are delighted to hear of so good a record. We note wits special satisfaction that the Motor Volunteers did not wait to be routed out, but that, with true military spirit, the Volunteer, officer commanding them took the sound of the explosion as Mei orders, and on his own initiative got his column together an stood by for orders at the proper place somewhere in London; Here was an admirable example of Napoleon's maxim—" March on the sound of the guns." The Volunteers cannot be in torsi places at once, running the business of the country and (Egging trenches. They have, however, trained themselves in their spare ; time, and if invasion and embodiment came all the time during the presence of the enemy In these islands will be spare time and. devoted to National Defence. There will be no shirking or resign,. ing. Of that the War Office can be sure.—En. Spectator.]
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