The animal Report on Recruiting was issued this week. The
changes of method in recruiting, and the slight improve- ments in the treatment of the soldier, adopted on the recom- mendation of Lord Wantage's Committee, have had, the result of making the service more popular. If men of good. con- duct, whose parents become dependent upon them, are allowed to leave the colours and go into the Reserve before their time is up, it is believed that parents will cease to dissuade their sons from enlisting. The numbers enlisted last year show an improvement in every district, and the figures of 1892 are 5,656 over those of 1891, and 10,252 over those of 1890. "There is not the slightest doubt," says the Report," that the improvement in the food and in the comforts offered in barracks to soldiers, has tended greatly to a marked diminution in the numbers of punishments for drunkenness and absence with- out leave. It may be confidently expected that these numbers will materially decrease year by year, and it is intended to in- stitute even more careful inquiries into the antecedents of recruits of doubtful appearance or character." It is interesting to note that last year 15,659 men joined the Army from the Militia, and 2,336 from the Volunteers,—in each case a greater number than in any of the four previous years. The Inspector- General ends his report by pleading for a greater margin being allowed by Parliament. The Department has often to stop recruiting when men are plentiful, though they know that in six months' time they will be looking for men, and not able to get them.
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