FOR WHAT PURPOSE DO THE VOLUNTEERS EXIST ?
[TO rims EDITOR UP THE "SPECTATOR"] SIB,—May I be allowed to add a mite of experience of an original Volunteer in a good City regiment? At that time there were two schools concerned in recruiting the force, one aiming at numbers, the other at efficiency. The latter were ready to submit to labour and time spent in gaining efficiency ; the former trusted the commander who led them in a looser fashion. The regiment to which I belonged maintained their point of the necessity of " military leading," so much so that when it was proposed that a popular Lord Mayor should be the first Honorary Colonel, we went one higher and secured the Commander-in-Chief. Our object was not to be smart but useful, and that object was attained by another Commander-in-Chief leading the C.I.V., and saying he could lead them anywhere. Could we say the same of all who followed the C.I.V. ? Our idea all through has been that mere numbers sacrifice the solidarity necessary in the field. Many regiments must be in very loose order, besides being physically and mentally unfit, and the result is that thousands of men of one stamp play golf or look on at football in preference to playing at soldiers. Are you right in selecting the London Scottish among the mere-number school ? From the first they agreed with us in every particular, and I think Mr. Arnold-Forster is right when he says nine out of ten Volunteer officers agree with his policy.—I am, Sir, &e.,
SEPTUAGENARIAN.
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