AN EXPERIMENT IN MOBILIZATION.
[To THE EDITOR Of TUB "SPECTAT011.1 SIR,—A short account of the following experiment and its result may perhaps be of interest to some of your readers. A good deal has been heard of late about the mobilization of the Territorial Force ; and Captain Bates, of the London Rifle Brigade, determined to test his company by ordering a surprise mobilization.
He had in view the following objects :—(1) A trial of how men would respond to a short and unexpected notice ; (2) an exercise of his company in the various details incident to mobilization. Accordingly on the evening of Friday, January 19th, be posted the following to 105 officers and men :—
"Test Mobilization.
"The Company will mobilize at headquarters on Sunday next
21st inst., at 11.30 rt.m. Dress, marching order, A ration is to be brought. A written list of what would be the contents of their kit-bag, great-coat, and haversack were the mobilization a reality is to be handed to me on parade by all members. I very much hope that every
member will do his best to make this test a success by attending.—AuTnua S. BATIAS (Captain, 0.0. • Cl° Company).
"Friday, January 19th, 1012."
The official returns show that as a result of this notice 65 out of the 105 officers and men to whom it was sent paraded at the headquarters of the battalion in Bunhill Row, E.G., at 11.30 a.m. on Sunday, January 21st. Every officer and non-commissioned officer was present, and allowing for the absence through illness or other unavoidable cause of nine privates the figures show an attendance of 67 per cont. of the strength of the Company. One non-commissioned
officer received his notice at Brighton, but succeeded in being among the earlier arrivals. The lists handed in were interesting. Very few men realized that kit-hags do not accompany them on service. One man proposed to bring a bathing costume ; but this for January was considered superfluous. One detail of the Territorial kit was criticised. It is laid down that certain articles are to be carried wrapped in the great-coat. It is difficult to say what would happen to these in the event of great-coats being used during a march. This could, of course, be remedied by issuing packs, as are carried by the Regular Army, but these we do not possess. After handing in the lists the Company was exercised in the various duties laid down for mobilization. Perhaps the most important of these is the "boot inspection." The result of this was fairly satisfactory. A few men paraded in somewhat inefficient boots ; but nearly all these men declared that they had stronger ones at home, and that they would have worn these bad they really been going on service. Afterwards the Company marched up to Hampstead.—I am, Sir, &c.,
ROBERT E. OTTER.
Lieut. L.R.B.
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