TERRITORIALS AND THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 239, 27 June 1918, Page 6

TERRITORIALS AND THE WAR

Sir,—is nn amateur ill military procedure, it seems to me a wrong thing that the Territorials, who have been taught the art of being soldiers—at the country's expense be it remembered— should quietly at home, while our splendid citizen soldiers are going freely to tho war. If we had depended on our New Zealand Army of Territorials, it seems to me that we should have been

in a very unenviable position now. Iu a letter from the front, received a few days ago, a Territorial soldier said that he was disgusted to find that the New Zealand Territorial is becoming known us "tho ■ peace 6oldier," because apparently lie declines to \go without his commission. For my!part, when these Territorials, trained at our expense, see tho fine civilian men that go in as privates sooner than wait to be called up I wonder they aro not ashamed!—l am, etc., TEE MOTHER OF A VOLUNTEER SOLDIER. [Our correspondent seems to be labouring under a misapprehension. Territorial soldiers who ha,ve readied tho age of enlistment for active service overseas aro called in the ballot, and if they come up to the physical standard must serve. The reference by our correspondent to commissions relates to a difficulty which has existed in regard to finding places for Territorial officers in the commissioned ranks of the Expeditionary Forces. Further, before tho inauguration of conscription Territorials volunteered in great numbers. The Snmoan expedition, as an instance, was almost wholly composed of Territorials.! '