UNIVERSAL SERVICE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 555, 9 July 1909, Page 9

UNIVERSAL SERVICE.

~'. .'■■; ■ - _ , WHAT LORD ROBERTS PROPOSES TO . DO. ; Tho National Service (Training and' Home Defence') Bill promoted by Lord lloberts was published'on May 22. According to : tho memorandum, tho Bill imposes on all nialo , British subjects residont in tho United Kingdom the obligation of serving in this. Territorial Forco between the ages of 18 and 30. Tlioro are, however, excluded from tho operation of the Bill all officers and men'of the Navy and Regular Army and of the Naval and Military lloeorve Forces (so that tho existing voluntary system of. raising the Regular Forces will in no way bo interfered with), and.all persons who reach the ago of 18 before tho date on which the Bill comes into operation—viz., January 1, 1910. .•'-.' Subject to certain modifications, every person who comes .under the Bill will be in oxactly tho same position as L a person who now enlists voluntarily into the Territorial • Force, and will thus during his term , of service nave to undergo training, and bo liable to bo called out for home defence in case of imminent national danger, but will be under no liability to servo outside tho United Kingdom. ' •'-.■•.' ".' ' • '.' ■: Under tho Bill, liability to training will not (as is now tlie'caso) extend over tho whole term of service, but will be limited to four years—normally tho first four years of i the term, but in exceptional c/ises the second to the fifth years, or'tho third to tho sixth. The first year's training'will be recruit training, and will bo four months for men'in the Infantry! and not loss: than four or more than six months for. men in other braiiches. In each, of tho' three' next years, fifteen' days! training, as well as a course of musketry and ,' attendance 'at certain, drills, will! , be required.. , .'•-..' .- .' /■':/: . _ Liability ,to attend on embodiment (i.e.'! in case' , , of imminent national danger) .will remain oxactly as it is under tho Act' of ' 0,907. _ :-,. . ■;, ... .. . : ..,,■-.; ; The Bill secures absolute equality of treat, ment as between all classes, inasmuch as under no circumstances, will any person be able to buy his discbarge or. to procure any kind pf exemption by means of a money: payment. ■ i The Bill provides for tho exemption from training of (j)men who have served at least three years, in tho Army or.Navy, ministers "■ of religion, and (in certain cases) only, sons of widows;; and (ii) persons physically in-; capacitated and- certain. persons ■ pmployed in. public, sorvice;,and also for the disqualifica-' tion of criminals, and. persons of bad.character.: All persons in class (ii),.and also, persons disqualified, will, if: their incomes exceed: £52 per annum, be required, in each of: the four years during which, they, should hayo been trained, to pay a special military tax'amounting, to-I per'cent, of : their 'incomes.- .■..;.'' ,' •'■' •" ■•. ;.;... ■' ' ■', ■. ■';' ■ As regards officers, it' is proposed that first .'appointments should only bo given to porsons who have cither, been through .recruit training or hold commissions in tho Regular Army.- •-.'-; ...■.' '."<.- . After,the Bill comes into operation, voluntary enlistment for, tbo Territorial Force will cease, but men now in tho Force will complete their current terms of sorvice. .'■ '. : .: ' A White-paper which has just been published says' that the amount of money' from public funds spent upon experiments in aerial navigation \ in... Germany last 'year'; was £133,731, as compared with an Army expenditure of £5270 by Great Britain. In addition, £265,000 ;was privately subscribed in Germany in connection with tho National Zop- : pflh'n Fund; Of the sum, of £133,731, £107,600 was the Homo Office vote for .tho Zeppelin airship, and £26,231 was tho amount '. expended-on -balloon battalion,''.' pay, .'oto : Great Britain spent £3290 on aeroplanes, and £1980 on dirigible .■ balloons. . France spent.£47,7oo; while Austria-Hungary's aeronautical expenses weio £230 more.than our own. '■'.•..-■ , . .'.-.. \ ■ ,: ;.; ; .'■■■. ,; - :