BRITISH TERRITORIAL BREAKDOWN.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1705, 24 March 1913, Page 11

BRITISH TERRITORIAL BREAKDOWN.

63,678 RESIGNATIONS IN A YEAR, The eerions condition of the territorial force was the subjeot.of inquiry in both British Houses of Parliament on February 8. In tho House of Commons, Colonel S'eely gave the following figures of men enlisted in the force for four years' service:—. 1909-10 1910-11. 1911-12. Men enlisted ... 42,239 . 39,086 57,916 Men re-enlisted with previous ' service 3,891 2,203 8,198 Men left tho force 4-8,682 _ 43,938 _ 63,678 Lord Horschell, answering questions _in tho House of Lords, gave the following figures relating to tho territorials:— > Establishment of officers 11,212 Officers serving on Jan. 1 9,291 N.-C. officers and men re-engaged for a year bebTeen Jan., 1912, and Jan. last . 31,618 Engaged foT second four years up to Jan. last . LORD ROBERTS'S MISSION. The following manifesto "from Lord Roberts to his fellow-citizens" is issued by the National Service League:— . "A country unpreparal invites attaok.Every man must realise that it is the bounden duty of o. citizen) to share in the oommon' duty of homo defence. "Behind the Navy we need a strong, well equipped and organised citizen army, capable of being immediately mobilised for defence, to guarantee us against attack. "Theso ai'e my • proposals: "No Conscription.

"I recommend the creation of a democratic defence force based on universal training of all able-bodied youths, without distinction of class or wealth, fof homo defence. . . . "Liability,, for service would be in theso islands only. No man in the citizen army could bo compelled to servo abroad evon in time of war. "Officers.—Promotion would bo from the ranks, and my merit only. "Employment—Precautions would bo token, as in Australia and New Zealand, to prevent any man from being penalised in any way by his employer in consequence of performing national duty. "Tho organisation and administration of this citizen army would be under tho same regulations as tho territorial force on a compulsory basis. It would therefore, not bo used to interfere with tho right to strike. "I ask you to assist mo to bring those proposals forward by joining tho National Sorvico League. "ROBERTS', F.M."