MOBILISATION.
I ro TES EDITOR OP TES " SPXCTATOL.9 SIR,—An attempt is about to be made to put the National Defences on a proper footing, and if this be done on business principles, the first thing the Committee of the Cabinet should do is to " take stock," as any new board of directors would do when intrusted with the reorganisation of an unsuccessful concern. We have a certain number of fighting units—ships in the Navy ; squadrons, batteries, battalions, &c., in the Army—and besides these we have, or ought to have, a certain number of non-combatant units for supplying the fighting units with ammunition, rations, medical assistance, &c., the right proportions being well known. Each com- mander of a unit knows the men and equipment he still requires before he could report it " complete and ready to go anywhere," and should be asked to make this report now for the information of the Committee of Defence. The total deficiencies in the " stock " will be found to be enormous, the cost of replenishing stock equally so. But the Committee will then know the true state of affairs, which is probably not known to any one man now.
If, for some reason, money cannot be found at once for the whole, at least some part should be made" thoroughly ready" now, and every year a sum should be set apart for systematically making up the deficiencies of the remainder. I do not believe a single unit is " ready," or could be made so without still further decreasing the readiness of others, and it is much safer to rely upon a small number of complete units than a large number all incomplete. As it is, recent mancenvres and attempts at mobilisation have shown that we are living in a fool's paradise, and the least we can do is, as you say to-day, to get "ready to the extent of our usual strength" as soon as possible.—I am, Sir, &c., C. 0.
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