In the House of Commons on Tuesday Mr. Wyndham opened
a debate on the second reading of the Territorial and Reserve Forces Bill. Mr. Wyndham explained that the Opposition were supporting an amendment which, if carried, would destroy the Bill because they saw grave defects in the scheme as it affected the expeditionary force, and because much that was valuable in the Auxiliary Forces would be destroyed. Mr. Wyndham, however, as we think lightly, made the proposals for the abolition of the Militia his chief groun& for opposition, and pointed out of what great import- ance is the asset which we shall certainly lose if the Militia goes, and bow speculative and visionary are the benefits which it is hoped will be derived from the substitutes provided by Mr. Haldane. Sir Edward Grey in an able but, in our opinion, most unconvincing speech defended the Government's pro- posals, and especially that part which dealt with the Militia. Theopposition to the Bill, he declared, might be summed up as Militia opposition. The Line must be supplied with drafts, and the Militia refused to supply them. Therefore the Militia in a measure had put itself out of court.
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