17 AUGUST 1912, Page 13

THE NATIONAL RESERVE—A SUGGESTION. [To TYR EDITOR or THE "

SPECTATOR."' Srn,—In order to promote the efficiency of the National Reserve I would suggest that officers might be allowed to attend courses at schools of instruction such as the School of Gunnery, School of Musketry, School of Army Signalling. There must be many among the older officers (quorum pars minima sum), still active in mind and body, whose leisure would permit them to attend gladly at their own charges. They would thus acquire up-to-date knowledge of fire discipline in artillery and of the latest rifle in infantry and so on. This would enable them to instruct their men, provided the War Office would furnish a modicum of equipment, if