[To THE EDITOR OF THE " srEcrAroa..1 Sin,—Mr. Warren ' s letter
showing the value of the V.T.C. in passing, or rather in having passed, on an endless stream of recruits for the Regular Armies is most true and interesting. That particular function is, however, practically over, as the members of these corps who are below the age of forty are now very few. To organize and use this existing body of Volunteers is the important matter at the present moment. This will doubtless be done to the satisfaction of us all by the
Marquess of Lincolnshire's Bill. There is also a slight con- fusion of ideas at the beginning of Mr. Warren's letter. The War Office's Order as to the undertaking to enlist, if called upon to do so, referred, in the early days of the movement- i.e., November, 1914—to those under thirty-eight, the then military age. Subsequently, on the raising of age to forty, the War Office in May last ordered that all those who joined a V.T.C. on or after June let, who were under forty, must sign the same undertaking. This is a rather cryptic state- ment; but it is, I believe, interpreted to mean that those who had joined any V.T.C. between the outbreak of the war and the first of last June who were over thirty-eight and yet under forty were exempt from this obligation. This is perhaps a matter of rather academic interest, for, as I have before stated, the number of men under forty is very small. At the same time, a clear understanding on every point connected with the Volunteer's duties and privileges is desirable at the present moment.—I am, Sir, do., Slough. MAI/RICH WILKINSON.
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