While no one can deny the advantage to the nation
of the existence of these bodies if they are properly organized and disciplined, no one, again, can deny that they would be a cause of danger and confusion if their energies were misdirected, if they fell into bad or incompetent hands, or if their zeal were dissipated by following false ideals. Supervision, then, there must be, and the War Office has very wisely devolved this work on the recognized body of soldiers and civilians over which Lord Desborough presides. One of its chief members is Sir O'lloore Creagh, who held only a few years ago what is the greatest permanent post in our Army, that of Commander-in-Chief in India. The Central Association of Volunteer Training Corps does not aim at dominating the Volunteer Corps that are affiliated to it, and none can exist which are not affiliated. It knows that sealed pattern corps are not appropriate to the Home Guards movement. It merely wants to see that there is no waste of energy, and that no foolish or frivolous spirit shall enter into a serious piece of work. Further, it wants to help and encourage local effort wherever local effort is not able to provide its own funds. But such adequate inspection and encouragement are necessarily expensive.
