For this muddle, at any rate, the War Office cannot
be held responsible. But on the larger and infinitely more Important question involved in the enforcement of the medical examination of the Volunteers it is impossible to relieve the War Secretary of responsibility for a grave and unconstitutional blunder. For a return() of the facts we may refer onr readers to an excellent leader in Tues- day's Standard, and to the letter signed "Volunteer Field Officer" which appears in our correspondence columns. We agree with the Standard in acquitting the commanding officer of blame. "The Circular remained," and the terms of the Circular left Volunteer commanders and medical officers no option in the matter. "The whole difficulty arises from the neglect of the. War Office to withdraw or modify a Circular which the Secretary of State had declared not to be an Order." We deal at length elsewhere with the whole question of the attitude of the Government
a••••
to the Volunteers, and will only add that while we cannot regret the action of the three sergeants, we hold strongly that the men who have submitted to the examination have taken the wiser course. It is above all things necessary at such a crisis that the Volunteers should refrain from any action which may expose them to the charge of indiscipline or insubordination, and so play into the hands of the Govern- ment in their policy of disintegrating and destroying the Auxiliary Forces.
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