OUR PRESENT NEED
Sta,—After more than two years of war, the Home Guard is still being lectured on "Ceremonial Guards" and exercised in presenting arms. Most of the men are in full-time occupations and attend parades only at the sacrifice of leisure hours. Their keenness to serve is beyond dispute, and these valuable hours should not be wasted with theatrical displays which have been handed down from a past age. Surely at this eleventh hour we should concentrate on learning the art of modern war (kill your enemy a split second -before he kills you); for war it will be when Hitler attacks this small island and it may be very soon.
Then there is the vexed question of polished buttons Ind badges. Old soldiers who went through the last war know these should be dull but if Hitler comes tonight he will find bright buttons. Starlight is vividly reflected even from one small button. Working men who often put in long hours of overtime and who have no servants to help should not be subjected to this barrack-square mentality.
Again, why should parades be cancelled on wet days? Are we sure Hitler won't choose such a day and wouldn't it be better to ex- perience actual conditions as near as possible beforehand? Turning to other aspects, do we really mean to give everyone a ;air deal after this war? If so, why not start now? One only needs to read a recent speech (Capt. G. Grey, M.P.) to know that we are not playing fair with our fighting men.
There are so many things that we could and should rdmedy now, the man in the street knows, Parliament knows, have we not sense enough to do them before it is too late?—Yours truly, B. IVAN SUTHERLAND.
Northfield Farm, Lowick, Berwick-on-Tweed.
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