NATIONAL RESERVE.
[To THE EDITOR or THE " STECTATOR."3
Sin,—Has not the time now arrived when those in authority shall decide the exact use they propose to make of the National Reserve ? Signs are not wanting that unless some- thing is done and done soon, the whole fabric may fall to pieces. As a regular reader of the Spectator I have watched with great interest the gradual development of this force and am myself in command of a company in, I believe, the first battalion raised in the county of Surrey. In this particular battalion we have not been idle. We are nearly up to strength and we have lately opened a headquarters in the town, but the difficulty in our way is the want of adequate recognition by the powers that be and lack of funds.
Now, Sir, from a speech delivered a few weeks ago by Colonel Seely, a' statement was 'made by him that they (presumably the War Office) did not look upon the National Reserve as in any way forming a ." third line of defence," from whkh it may be assumed that present the War Office does not favour the idea of the National Reserve being trained on "a regimental basis, or for its units to be relied onto take the field in time of need. It is obvious that to do this would necessitate the expenditure of large sums in uni- forms, rifles, instructors, &c., and there would be likely to arise a competition with the existing Territorial Force, in fact, even at present there are indications that the Territorial Force look with a somewhat jealous eye on the National Reserve ; and, Sir, more important than all, would not the recognition of the National Reserve as a fighting unit put back the hands of the clock to the day when we shall see National Service P We know that on occasions the War Secretary in giving figures,has included the National Reserve in his calculations.
As one who believes that the only salvation for this country is to adopt National Service on the lines of the National Service League, would it not be wise at the moment to keep the National Reserve as it was originally intended, viz., as a registration of men who had served in one or the other forces of the Crown P But I would go one step further and open in every town a club or headquarters where members of the National'Reserve can meet. In this town it has been a great success, and to my knowledge much good has already arisen in the helping of those men who have fallen on bad times (it is proposed here to form a kind of labour bureau). There should certainly be route marches and church parades at stated intervals, as these help to keep the men together, but cannot but think that to endeavour—as we are doing now— to train men without rifles or uniform is a policy that must sooner or later end in failure.—I am, Sir, &c., G. T. W.
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