THE NATIONAL RESERVE—A SUGGESTED PARADE FOR LONDON.
WE have read with great pleasure and satisfaction the letter in which Lord Esher replies to a letter from Mr. Strachey suggesting that it would further the interests of the London National Reserve if a parade of that body, now well over 20,000 strong, and likely under the stimulus of a parade to increase to 30,000, wore held in Hyde Park i some Saturday evening in June or July. Lord Esher, who has done invaluable public service as the Chairman of the County of London Territorial Association—he has worked as hard at his office as a bank manager—fully endorses the suggestion, and we have no doubt that the two London Associations, those of the County and of the City, and the Joint Committee, who, under the able presidency of Sir John Steevens, have raised and managed the London National Reserve, will be able to place before the eyes of the Secretary of State for War and the Army Council, or who ever else inspects the parade, one of the most remarkable bodies of men for patriotic spirit, for soldierly bearing, for physique, and, last of all, for experience of active service that could be furnished by any country in the world. The spectacle of some 25,000 to 30,000 men of the National Reserve marching through the streets of London will bring home to the country in a way in which nothing else can the fact that our reserve of trained men is capable of becoming a great national asset, and that having got so far it is the duty of the country not to leave the work half, or rather much less than a quarter done, but to bring it to fruition.
It is quite right to be enthusiastic about the National Reserve, but we must not forget that up till now only a beginning has been made by certain specially energetic and patriotic counties. If the rest of the country will only do as well as Surrey, as London, and as Oxfordshire—and there is no reason why they should not do not only as well but even better—the country ought to have by this time next year some 300,000 men on the register of the National Reserve. At present, however, there are only some 50,000 men registered, for a great many counties of England and Scot- land have done practically nothing towards registering the trained men within their areas. This fact makes one realize how very far behind the greater part of the country still is in the matter of raising the National Reserve. Only about one-sixth of the work has yet been accomplished. Five- sixths remain undone. Before, therefore, we shout about the National Reserve and congratulate ourselves on our patriotism, and so forth, a great further effort is required. It is not a case merely of not shouting before we are out of the wood. It is a case of not shouting when we have only just entered it. This is the reason why it is so vastly important to hold a great parade this summer in London. Although a small minority in the country which is keen about military affairs realizes the existence of the National Reserve, it must not be forgotten that the great majority have never even heard of it. A parade in London, however, with the consequent reports and descriptions in every newspaper in the country, will put matters right in this respect. After such a parade we may feel sure that the country as a whole will at last realize the Reserve and its possibilities, and that men will say to each other : " If London can do this, why cannot we ? " That question only wants to be asked and pressed home with sufficient persistence to bring up the numbers of the National Reserve in every Territorial area to their full number. The National Reserve parade in London is wanted to stimulate that last, long, painful pull on the ropes which must come in every undertaking. Remember, that if such a pull is not made, the waggon is certain to slip down the hill again, and all the work that has yet been accomplished will be thrown away. At present the waggon has only covered one-sixth of the way to the top of the hill.
To hold a parade of the National Reserve in Hyde Park will cost money, and no public funds are available for the purpose. This being so, we desire to appeal to our readers to help in the work of providing the funds required for the parade of the London National Reserve. Wo have never forgotten the splendid help which our readers gave us in raising the 'Spectator Experimental Company. If they will now help in providing the £2,500 which it is calculated will be required for the parade of the London National Reserve as a whole, plus some representative contingents from the rest of England and Scotland and Ireland, we shall be very grateful. Mr. Strachey, in his letter to Lord Esher, expresses a hope of finding some twenty-four subscribers willing to give £100 each, but we need hardly say that we should be very glad to receive sums either greater or smaller. If our readers will help, will they kindly send cheques made payable to the Spectator, and crossed " Barclay and Company, Gosling's Branch " ? The words " National Reserve " should be placed on the envelope. Contributions will be acknowledged in our columns.
Previous page
