'THE AVERAGE AGE OF THE TERRITORIALS.
Uro TER EDITOR OF TEE "SPECTATOR."]
8111.,—Will you permit an obscure individual to address a grave warning to the people, as to one of the things which belong unto their peace ? There are, indeed, many con- siderations with respect to the numbers and training of the Territorials on which the people would do well to ponder, and as to which a great deal has already been said by more competent critics than myself. But, strangely enough, I have seen very little said about their average age. I believe it is the intention of the military authorities in case of mobilization of the expeditionary force to leave at the depots all Regular soldiers under twenty years of age as being too young to stand the hardships of a Continental campaign. There is no reason, however, to suppose that in case of invasion our Territorial troops would have to undergo less hardships than Regulars would in fighting on the Continent; probably quite the reverse. But if the same rule were applied to our Terri- torial unite on mobilization (I have just completed my period of eommand of one of them) something like three-quarters of the rank and file of each unit would be left behind. It will be evident that this estimate is not exaggerated when I say that most of the recruits join at little over the minimum Age, seventeen ; and we have to deduct those who become non-eommissioned officers and those who leave before their four years are up. And what sort of troops would these immature lads have to face ? Men, few if any of whom were under twenty-one. The importance which is attached to the question of age abroad may be gauged by what is now happening in France. There the young men have not hitherto been taken for training at all till they were twenty-one. Knowing that they might he called upon to fight any day, without even six months' warning, the Government has refused to count as soldiers any lads under an age limit one year higher than that thought sufficient by our War Office. But now that the nation has determined to extend the period with the colours to three years instead of two, an agitation has been set on foot to add the extra year at the beginning instead of at the end of the period, by taking recruits at twenty instead of twenty-one. This proposal has, however, been strenuously resisted by the military authorities, and only under the greatest political pressure has the Govern- ment agreed, as a compromise, that certain selected young men of exceptional physique shall be allowed to join the ranks at twenty. Our Government is deceiving the nation. It is reckoning as soldiers old men and young boys such as the Government of no military nation would dare for a moment to put forward as " effectives." It is only because the average Briton knows so little, and cares so little, about military affairs, that such a fraud upon the public is possible.—I am, Sir, &c„ EDWARD T. DIXON. The Hard, Hythe, Southampton.
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