THE LEGION OF FRONTIERSMEN.

Evening Star, Issue 12882, 3 August 1906, Page 10

THE LEGION OF FRONTIERSMEN.

A PROMISING IMPERIAL ASSET.

[From Ocr Special Correspondent.]

LONDON, Juno 30. ihe new "Legion of Frontiersmen" is going ahead fast, I hear, and as there have been numerous applications from men in New Zealand for information and for enrolment in the corps, some details of the scheme will, no doubt, be of interest. iho Legion is authorised by the War Office, and. is-backed by practically every military expert in the United Kingdom. Its object is "the organisation of a civilian, self-governing,, and self-supporting body.of British frontiersmenthroughout the Empire, associated for the promotion of Imperial interests in time of peace,' and whose services shall be. available/ if called upon, for Imperial defence iii' time of war." ■■•■■•".

Iho term " Frontiersmen". includes men trained and qualified ..■.'by.; previous completed military service," or "hy working, hunting, or fighting in wild, countries, or at sea, who, for various reasons, do not or cannot serve in. the existing military forces of the Empire,, and who are not prepared, by reason, of temperament or vocation, to submit themselves to the ordinary routine of military discipline, except in time of war. There is believed to be a wide and hitherto untouched field of enrolment open for the Legion, and the Executive Council possess evidence that thousands of men of the kind described are ready to enrol as members and to subscribe to the Legion's funds, provided that in time of peace it is organised as a purely civilian, self-governing corps. In time of war the Frontiersmen would be available for the purposes of Imperial defence as scouts, guides, craftsmen in all trades of militarv value, mounted infantry, and members of an Intelligence Department. The central headquarters of the Legion will be established in London, with local councils and commands throughout tho Empire, as membership and funds permit, and subject to the consent of the respective colonial authorities. The councils will be elected by the members, and each council will haveone or more representatives on the headquarter executive council. All leaders of local commands, moreover, will be elected by the votes of the men of their respective commands.

It is proposed to have three classes of members, as follows;. —

Annual Headquarter Subscription. Class A.—Pledged to military service in time of war, if and when called uuon ... £0 10 6 Class B.—Prepared to act as guides or local assistants . , and advisers, if and when called upon ... ■;..- ... .... 1 10 Honorary.—ln sympathy with the aims of "the Legion, ~not less than ... ... ..: ... 220

In addition-to such subscriptions, it is proposed that local councils and commands shall raise funds for their own requirements by local subscription, to be supplemented from time totimo by grants from headquarters,'as funds permit, and as the Executive Council may deem advisable. ... The advantages; of membership- have been outlined thus :

(( 1. The establishment throughout, the Empire of a friendly organisation, whose members are united for a common Imperial purpose, who can be known to one another by a distinctive badge, and who will be ready to act in unison when required. . 2. The establishment of headquarters in London, and of a club, as funds permit, where members can enjoy the advantage of a central rallying place. -." ;;.;:l: r 3. A system of organised sports, and of exhibitions" of frontier skill in riding, shooting, packing, rind other Warliko~exercises. .-•-■■

4. Tho grant to efficient Frontiersmen who mav be selected for service in time of war of the same military status, ; pay, rations, and allowances' as obtain in the regular arnfv. with such additional bonuses for any particular or daring work" as may be specially allotted. 5. The gradual development of a mutual benefit association for members of the legion. The Earl of Lonsdale, who is well known as a hunter, explorer, and' sportsman, is the chairman of the General Council of the Legion, and Sir Henry-''Seton-Karr, another hunter of world : wide note, is chairman of the Executive, Council. The secretary is Mr C. C°rv Kernick, of 6 Adam street, Strand, London, W.C., and

amongst the well-known members may be mentioned Lord Onslow, Lord Meath, Major-general ' Brabant; Major-general Hutton, Lioutenant-ceheral Sir John French, Brigadier-general Rimington, Admiral Sir Percy Scott, Sir A. Conan Dovle, the Hon. W. H. James K.C. (West Australia). Mr H. Rider Haggard, Captain Ha-rrv Do Wihdt, Ca-ntain E. S. Grogan, Mr Cutcliffe Hyne. Mr C. B. Frv, Mr M. H. Don- hoe, and Mr Edgar Wallace.

For the Legion of Frontiersmen are wanted men who have fought in wars or worked in wild countries or at sea—sailors, soldiers, explorers, prospectors, miners, civil and mining engineers, mounted police, stable drivers, mail riders, cowboys, stockmen, hcrse-breakers, ' guides, lumbermen, hunters, wa.r correspondents, and so on; in short, the "open-air" men, as distinguished from the townsmen. And it is honed that the Lee ion may eventually grow into a powerful and world-wide Imperial asset of great value.