THE TERRITORIAL ARMY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLIII, 8 February 1909, Page 3

THE TERRITORIAL ARMY.

AN APPEAL FOR ENROLMENTS.

DONATIONS AND CONCESSIONS. (Reed. Feb. 8, 9.40 a.m.) LONDON, Sunday. In conseqnehce of the newspapers, the drama "An Englishman's Home," and Lord Esher, liirough the "Daily Mail" appealing for 11,000 Territorials to complete thc London establishment, an anonymous donor has forwarded £10,000 to the funds of the Londoii Territorials Asociation. Tbe Mayors of London Boroughs are calling meetings, and over 200 large firms are granting Territorials three weeks' holiday to encourage enlisting. [Great dissatisfaction is being expressed in the Territorial Force over the design of the new efficiency medal. Instead of conforming with the traditional circular shape, as in the case of Regular Army medals, the design for tho Territorial decoration is oval. The appearance of it is insignificant, and it is charged against the Army authorities that they have created another mark of difference between the Regular and Territorial Forces instead of treating them as one army, as Mr Haldane intended. The newmedal has the appearance of a football club or bicycle race medallion, the shape of which is well known, being, it is claimed, a "cross" between a friendly society medal and a district messenger badge. Territorial soldiers claim that they ought to have the solid circular silver shape, as had the old Volunteers, and not—by the differentiation of the Regular authorities—be given a decoration, as one man put it, "suitable for a Sunday School." The King, it is pointed out, has just approved the issue of an Indian General Service Medal, and the native camp followers in tho 1908 operations are to be awarded this Army medal in bronze, circular in shape, with clasp. Such a medal is regarded as "infinitelysuperior to tho Territorial Efficiency 'badge.' "J