LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
THE NATIONAL RESERVE.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."] SIR,—The Folkestone Company has a strength of about 600 men, and this figure could in all probability be considerably increased if conditions of service became more attractive. The strength of our company is in a great measure owing to the personal efforts and influence of Captain W. Griffin, the
General Manager of the Folkestone Gas Company, an employer of labour, who knows local conditions well. The funds of the
corps are derived from subscriptions of our supporters— charity in fact—and obviously such a source of income cannot be depended upon. We are convinced that unless uniform is granted, and definite instructions as to our duties, the Com- pany will die of inanition. The military authorities here are most generously inclined, and offer all possible help and encouragement; but our best men will not turn out in public in plain clothes, the decidedly heterogeneous appearance of which is strongly felt to militate against self-respect and discipline, and renders very awkward the intercourse between officers and men as well as between these and those of the regular Army. For instance, we officers are anxious to go through refresher courses in drill, musketry, signalling, commissariat supply duties, &a., but we cannot well present ourselves in mufti. The defence of a town, street fighting, &c., constitute a special section of military science, and we should be glad of up-to-date instruction. The large majority of the men are willing enough to turn out for instruction, subject to limits imposed by their daily wage-earning occupations. No doubt the Government have now obtained all the information they require : they now know, at no cost to themselves, that there are many thousands of good men ready to go back to the Army again. We ought to become a valuable recruiting agency if we could only parade in uniform as an example to younger men. As it is, we are more often than not taken for the unemployed or strikers, and this is more than old soldiers can tolerate. We think County Associations should consult each other periodically as to a standard policy on all points, and orders received from one headquarter office would be appreciated. The Senior Major of the Royal Irish Fusiliers (hold to be the best-drilled regiment in the service) has kindly offered to lecture on those duties which are likely to fall to our lot on service, and if something of this nature were printed and circulated as a guide I think it would be an advantage.
We are getting tired of doing nothing of any definite pur- pose. Anything you can do to help to keep the force together, so that old soldiers may really feel their offer of service is not a sham, will be greatly appreciated.—I am, Sir, &c., H. K. GORDON, Lt.-Col., National Reserve. SO years' sorvico with Indian Volunteers.
Late Commandant, Hyderabad-Deccan and Moulmein Battalions. Cromdlae, Shorneliffe Road, Folkestone.
[We can well understand our correspondent's impatience, but we are much surprised to hear that the men of his Company during what we may term the probationary stage of the National Reserve object to parading in mufti. No such objection was made by the Surrey National Reservists when they paraded before the Secretary of State for War on the Horse Guards' Parade, nor last year when they were inspected by Lord Roberts at Guildford, nor, as far as we know, have the London men shown any such disinclination. In our opinion the essential thing is for the Reserve to show patience till we can get the movement thoroughly under way, and till, say, 300,000 men are registered throughout the country. Then we may feel sure that the nation will not be appealed to in vain, and that this most important national asset will not be neglected. Meantime we must be fair to the War Office. It has shown no little sympathy with the National Reserve, even if it has moved somewhat slowly, after the way of Government Departments.—En. Spectator.]
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