"CRABBING" THE TERRITORIALS.
[To THE EDITOR OP THE " SPECTATOR.") Sin,—Under the above heading " D. H. S." in your issue of the 3rd inst. says with regard to the National Service League proposals that, as a Territorial and -Volunteer sergeant of ten years' standing, he finds fully ninety per cent. of his corps are not in favour of these proposals, and "for much about the same reasons." It is a pity he does not state the reasons, that others might be able to estimate their worth. As a believer• in these proposals, my main reason for supporting them is that it is alleged that the Territorials, neither in men nor officers, are numerically sufficient for the purpose in view,— namely, the defence of our shores in case of invasion. There is a serious shortage in both ranks of the Service. All honour to those who have joined. But what of the vast numbers of able-bodied men who might join, and ought to join, but will not ? It is to awaken these to a sense of their duty that, as I understand it, the National Service League exists. I observe in the same issue of your journal " A Traveller" speaks of "some millions of Britishers who have been awake when most of the others have been dull, lethargic, or asleep,— men who have shown a practical interest in the welfare and security of their country." All honour to these, I say again. But surely all honour also to the National Service League for its patriotic efforts to arouse, by compulsion if necessary, the careless and sleepy ones. Why should the active and earnest do for the lazy and indifferent what they are quite able, if only they were willing, to do for themselves,—undergo a modicum of training for the defence of their home and country ? Well may "A Traveller" express the wish that he
might have had with him in his travels through Germany some of his self-satisfied, over confident fellow-countrymen, that in this regard they might see how far behind that country we are.—I am, Sir, &c., A CLERGYMAN.
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