BRITISH TERRITORIALS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15914, 11 May 1915, Page 4

BRITISH TERRITORIALS.

"A WONDERFUL LOT,'*

COMMANDERS SATISFIED.

Tub British territorial is the subject of a despatch from Mr. E. Ashmead-Bartlett, written from general headquarters, France, last month. At the outbreak of war, he said, almost everyone in the country had complete confidence in our email regulararmy, and felt certain that,it would give a splendid account of itself on the Continent. The deeds of our original expeditionary forco exceeded tho most sanguine expectations. On the other hand thero was widespread mistrust of the capabilities of the new territorial army, either for purposes of home defence, or for service abroad. It was known to be short of numbers, both in officers and men; it was said to be but half-trained, and it was thought that the majority of the men, having been enlisted for home defence, would bo found unwilling to serve abroad. Many authorities expressed the opinion that it would be the height of folly to place such men in front of troops like the Germans. Therefore, no forces have been watched more closely, and their conduct in tho field more carefully scrutinised than the Territorial battalions which have been drafted to the front.

Some battalions were known to be excellent, and bore historic names 6uch as the London Scottish, the Queen's Westminsters, and the Artists' Rifles, but little or nothing was known of the character and capabilities of the majority. At the first wave of patriotic fervour which swept over the country nt the outbreak of war there was found no difficulty in bringing the existing territorial force up to {u\l strength in both officers and men. The creation of reserve battalions was also commenced, and these were also soon brought up to full strength. Each man was asked whether he would be willing to serve abroad, and tho response of the vast majority was in the affirmative. Those who, owing to the nature of their employment or family responsibilities, wero unable to leave England were dratted into special battalions reserved for home defence. The territorial army was, of course, primarily intended for" home defence, but the rapid development of the situation on the Continent, and our heavy losses rendered it necessary to send any troops whose training was sufficiently advanced to the front, whilst time was given to the new armies to train, to arm, and to organise The territorial battalions therefore had a long start over other formations They were mobilised at the very outbreak of war, mid have been training hard ever since. Thus, after some months of training at home, picked battalions, whose progress seemed to warrant the step, were sent to France to fight side by side with our regular forces.

A lighting Class. The vast majority of the men who fill the ranks of the' territorial forces are drawn from a different class to those who enlist in the regular army or who join it from the special reserve. Their occupations in time of peace are many and varied, There are clerks from the city holding good positions. There are men who come from behind the, counter, and others who (ill positions of a highly important and confidential character as secretaries, accountants, and mechanical experts. Every branch of trade and industry is represented in the ranks. They are men who have joined the force in times of peace out of a sense of duty, because they feel that every able-bodied man should play some role, however small, in the defence of his country. Many have been obliged to throw up employment which was bringing them in large salaries, And now support their homes and families on tho King's shilling and separation allowances. No class deserves better of the country than the men who fill the ranks of the territorial army. Yet simply becauso of the fact that the majority had the patriotism to enlist, and in a measure to prepare themselves for war in times of peace, the force has been somewhat overlooked and public attention concentrated on Ithe levy of the new armies and in working up the patriotism of those who still hesitated to join the colours even when the country was faced with a grave crisis, 'some of tho battalions sent to the front had to meet their baptism of fire under the most trying circumstances. They were thrown into the firing lino at a moment's notice because every available bayonet was required to hold our thin line. As was only natural, both officers and men suffered from inexperience, just as all troops are liable to do under similar circumstances. Tho small regular army which has sufficed for tho needs of the Empire up to the present war has been officered for two centuries or more by a peculiar fighting class with family traditions which go back for generations. It is remarkable to find how many of our officers could have pointed to fathers and grandfathers who had served in the same regiment as they themselves belonged to. Our officers' corps is a kind of Samurai class, whoso courage, devotion on duty, and hardihood are famous the world over. There are some retired regular officers in the territorial army, but tho majority are drawn from the ranks of civil life, and without any other experience of soldiering except that which they had acquired during the annual training of their battalions.

Excellent Shots. I have often heard the question asked, "Will these men, some of whom do not belong to the old fighting stock from whom wo have drawn our best officers in the past, lead their men into action in the same manner, with the same skill, and the same self-sacrificing devotion? We can only judge by what they have already accomplished in the field. The territorials have tumbled to the new life with astonishing rapidity. Let me quote a few of the remarks I have heard from various generals. Sir John French himself is delighted with them, He has expressed his opinion in his despatches and privately. His words are not mere praise intended to encourage the officers and men; they represent his sincere and considered opinion. A corps commander said to me: "I consider the territorial battalions under my command the equal of any of the lino battalions. Let them semi mo out as many as they can. I can ask for no bettor troops, after they have Lad a few weeks of experiences in "the face of the enemy."

A brigade commander spoke as follows: "My territorials are a woiukvlul Int. 1 never saw finer troops. 'J he men are wonderfully intelligent. They urn as keen as mustard, and are acquiring a remarkable skill in trend) warfare." Another general said: " I never expected to find new troops develop so quickly. You should just see them worrying the Germans in the trenches. Above all, they are excellent shots, and can knock the stuffing out of the enemy's snipers and sharpshooters. They have already acquired that moral superiority over the Germans which is of immense value in trench fighting. It means that the enemy prefer to lie 'doggo,' and won't worry yon the whole time, because they know they are going to get worse than tliev give." I could quote much mo-c of emcli praise, but what 1 have said will be sufficient to show the esteem in which thesenew battalions are held by those in immediate command, who have had the opportunity of watching them day after .day. in billets and in the trenches, amidst the mud and through the long freezing nights, when they have had to stan'd 'for hours above their knees in mud and try to smile.

The territorial battalions are in no way pampered. They lead exactly the same existence as their comrades in the line. They take their turn in the trenches and in the many fatiguing duties which have to be performed behind the 'hies, road making, forest clearing, and trench-dig-ging. Somo of the battalions are very good diggers, because they went through a long course of this sort of work at home before being sent to the front. The appearance of the men is excellent: their physique is splendid.