Evening Post. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 27, 1915.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 22, 27 January 1915, Page 6

Evening Post. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 27, 1915.

THE NATIONAL RESERVE Everybody has heard something about the National Reserve during the last few months, but the average man has had only a very vague idea of what it means, and he has reserved his enthusiasm for the more exciting military issues in which the time abounds. The publication of the new regulations regarding the Reserve has now, however, removed any excuse for ignorance or indifference. The objects of the Force are very clearly set forth, and both objects and methods seem to us admirable. " What can we do to help?" is a question frequently asked by men who are anxious to ser\e the Empire but are past the age for rendering active service at the front. The provision of comforts far the men who are not thus disqualified and have answered the Empire's call, the relief of distreos, the pi emotion of a nturdy and lobfi 1 patriotism— thoas are spins of tho

obvious ways in which no man who is in full possession of his faculties is too old to help. But most of the seniors feel that preaching patriotism and paying subscriptions and keeping up a good heart make but a poor substitute for the personal service which younger men are privileged to render. For many of these' elderly malcontents the regulations that were published yesterday provide the opportunity for which they have been looking. The object of the National Reserve is declared by these regulations to be to register "those who have served in any of the Naval or Military Forces of the Empire who, being under no obligation to serve or come up for service in times of peace under the vafious Defence Acts, still desire to organise and do something to assist in the protection of th#Dominion in time of emergency." The stipulation for past service in the Naval or Military Forces may at first sight appear to be unduly narrowing, but the qualification shows that the door is really very wide. In addition to exmembers of all the ordinary Forces, including the Militia, Volunteers, and Territorials, room is also found for honorary members of Rifle Clubs, honorary Territorials, and even for " other persons approved by the committee." The National Reserve certainly offers a splendid opportunity for large numbers of men who have hitherto felt ; themselves to be very much out in the j cold, and we trust that they will avail themselves of it to the fullest possible extent. In time of peace the duties of the I National Reserve will not be of an onerous character. The military authorities cannot undertake to drill or tram the force, oiOr to* provide it with arms or equipment. Drill halls and rifle ranges cannot be provided for it as of right, though where other local arrange- | meats permit of it the necessary accommodation will be forthcoming. Thus the | activities of the force in time of peace will be much as its local executive com- j mittee chooses to make them. Its actual obligation will for the most part be to have an organisation ready for the time of need. " The Reserve in peace time/ say the regulations, " should be considered' as a body of patriotic citizens listing themselves together as a precautionary measure, assisting the Defence and local authorities/ and ready to undergo further training and receive equipment when actually called up by the Government." We are pleased to note that one of the • duties undertaken by the National Reserve is "to bring home to the Territorials and Cadets their duty to faithfully serve through the training required under the Defence Act." This is a duty which members of the Reserve will have always with them, and in time of war they will also be expected to bring home to the public the duty of enlisting for service. Both of these important duties will obviously be much hioro effectively undertaken by an organisation than by scattered units, and by men who are themselves giving an earnest of practical patriotism than by those who, are not. Moral support of an organised character Is something that the Territorial Force has hitherto almost entirely lacked. The honorary Territorials have done good work in some districts, but the movement has not taken a strong or general hold. An organisation of the older men for the purposo of providing the training scheme with this support might be of great value in keeping it on right lines and preventing any backsliding. How soon a call may come to the National Reserve for actual service none can tell, but it is the height of folly to suppose that it wwilyl y never come at all. The Empire is fighting for its life. In August and September we all realised the fact, and it dominated and coloured all our thoughts and feelings. But now that' the great struggle has proceeded for nearly six months, and both on land and on sea the success of • the Allies' arms has | been extraordinary, our people are too apt to assume that all is well, that there j is no need to worry, and that there is j no need for effort on any larger scale than has hitherto been observed. Scare would be an even worse peril than in- j difference at a time like this, but since the opening weeks of the war there has been no risk of a scare. Tho danger now rather lies in the complacency which j supposes that we are doing all that we need to do and have only to wait for the umpire's verdict.