The Duke of Bedford followed Lord Roberts with one of
those thoughtful, and also practical, speeches for which he has a well-deserved reputation. The most important passage was that in which he criticised Mr. Haldane's Militia proposals. The Militia w reproached with it deficient numbeee, but it was not snowed to manage its own recruiting. "Give us complete coetrol of our own recruiting system, and the Militia is ready to find men for both Militia aud Line." It was willing also to give foreign-service enlistment on embodiment and increased recruit-training,..-indeed, to give a far greater amount of recruit-training than the Government were prepared to pay for, and to pass men by voluntary transfer to the Line in time of war. It is, in our opinion, very greatly to be hoped that Mr. Haldane, even at the eleventh hour, may be induced to introduce into his scheme some plan for raising a true Militia Reserve, which the Duke of Bedford—and there can be no higher authority on this point--asserts could be created at the cost of Li per man.
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