THE AGE OF THE TERRITORIAL FORCE.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."] SIR,—Anonymity is perhaps a necessary shield for persons who, like the "Territorial Officer" who writes in your issue of September 13th, constantly connive at the commission of a criminal offence—for that is what a false answer on attestation is—and while " shrewdly suspecting " such false answers, do not hesitate to sign the attestation certificate in every case. The writer says "the net is wide enough," implying thereby that it is too wide; if that be so, it is only because the War Office trusts that the majority of recruiting officers will not, like your correspondent, betray the interests of the Force in which they serve. I believe that it was John Bright who once described one of his traducers, by name Smith, as " a disgrace to the numerous family of that name." I am not sure that the same might not be said of the " Territorial Officer " of the present case. A few cases do and must occur of false answers. But, in my own experience at least, boys of doubtful age have always been asked a few supplementary questions as to birth- days, &c. To demand the production of a birth certificate (as "Territorial Officer" suggests) is tantamount to fining a would-be recruit half-a-crown and sending a willing lad away to cool his ardour in hunting for his credentials. In the present state of English manners and the present organiza- tion of English bureaucracy, it is unthinkable.—I am, Sir, &c.,
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