During the past week the greater part of the Territorial
Army has been under canvas, some in large camps, such as that on Salisbury Plain, and others in smaller brigade camps. On the whole the quality shown by the troops has been exceedingly good. We note with pleasure that some of the new batteries raised have proved most promising. For example, Tuesday's Times contains an account of a new heavy battery belonging to one of the divisions of the Midlands, which has been in camp at South Donee, Yarmouth. This battery (the Warwickshire Royal Garrison Artillery) is officered and manned entirely by men in the employment of the Metropolitan Amalgamated Railway Carriage and Wagon Company. It is commanded by Major Greg, an official of the Company, and its formation was, says the Times, due to the public spirit of the chairman, Mr. Dudley Docker, and his co-directors. It was the first of the newly raised Artillery units to have its complement of 41 guns and harness. Only raised at the end of May, it bad no instructors— members of the permanent staff of the Regular Army— till a month ago. When the commanding officer proposed that the battery should carry out its work this year, the military authorities were inclined to discountenance the proposal, thinking it impossible in so short a time. They yielded, however, and the battery proved what can be done even in a short time by energetic officers and intelligent men. When Colonel Cunliffe inspected the battery last Saturday he declared that "in the regular service such a result would be impossible in the time." He could hardly believe it possible in any circumstances that the progress could be so rapid and so marked. In our opinion, not only the officers and men but the directors of the company are to be congratulated on their patriotic effort.
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