Friday's papers contain an important appeal to Mr. Asquith on
the question of national defence, signed by the leading members of the National Defence Association, a body forme(' to promote the study of our military problems. The appeal asks the Government to take the nation into their con- fidence and to give a clear and specific statement as to the position in which the country now stands in view of the changes in circumstances which have come about in the last few years. It asks the Committee of Imperial Defence in effect to recalculate what number of foreign troops might be deemed capable of eluding the Navy and effecting a raid, and whether the Territorial Army can be pronounced adequate in training and numbers to undertake the defence of the United Kingdom at the outbreak of war and thus set free the Navy and the Regular Army for whatever service may be required of them. Perhaps the most important point in the appeal is the declaration that the Territorials are only main- tained at their present strength, which is admittedly deficient, by recruiting efforts which cannot be continued at the existing high pressure. Anyone who, like the present writer, has done his best to help in a recruiting boom will recognize the truth of this statement. A recruiting boom is like a religious revival —a special effort which by its nature cannot become chronic and perennial.
