In the House of Commons on Monday Mr. Arnold-Forster still
further unfolded his scheme of Army Reform; and attempted to answer his critics. In all cases he stuck to his guns, and showed no willingness to relent in the matter either of the Militia or the Volunteers. It is curious, in view of the sympathy expressed by Mr. Arnold-Forster in regard to the Yeomanry, that he does not realise that if the Militia were paid on a scale approaching that of the Yeomanry, and were shown the same consideration by the War Office, it might be redeemed from that inefficiency which Mr. Arnald- Forster is always throwing in its face. The Militia is eminently a force to be mended, not ended. The debate which followed Mr. Arnold-Forster's speech was weighty in the extreme, and with one exception—that of Sir F. Cars Ranch—the speeches were all unfavourable to the new proposals. Lord George Hamilton, speaking as one who had held the offices of First Lord of the Admiralty and Secretary of State for India, showed how rash and ill-can- sidered the scheme was as a whole, and strongly urged delay. His best practical suggestion was that the defence of our naval stations should be placed under the Admiralty and that they should be manned by the Marines. After a sen- sible and moderate speech from Mr. Winston Churchill, Mr. Asquith made a dignified but most necessary disclaimer• on behalf of himself and his colleagues of any responsibility in regard to the scheme.
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