THE BRITISH ARMY.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 14004, 13 September 1909, Page 3

THE BRITISH ARMY.

NEW THREE-FOLD FORCE. The Government's intention to call into being a new Territorial reserve force was announced in the House of Lords at. the end of July., by the Under-Secretary for War, and was also the subject of a special circular issued by tho War Office. Lord Lucas said the Territorial Ariny on mobilisation would be considerably under strength. They were about to issue instructions for : the formation of a Territorial Force .'Reserve, and that reserve would be formed in three separate categories—the Territorial Force Reserve, the Technical Reserve, and the Veterans' Reserve. The first would have an establishment of 100,000, and would consist of captains and . subalterns " who had completed four years' service In the military forces of rlio Crown since 1000, and men who had completed their four fifteen' days camps or their equivalent. The men would be provided with uniforms and allowed to attend comp if they so desired, with their unit, up to.the establishment ol that unit as it weut out to camp. They would take an agreement under which they would be called up under just ■■■ the same conditions as the Territorial Force itself on mobilisation, and it was with these .men that they proposed, to complete the ranks on mobilisation. The Teclmical- reserve would consist of men who had a specialised knowledge of a technical nature which might prove of valuable ..service, .such as..veterinary or medical men, railway and telegraph personnel, balloonists, acroplanists, and other people whose services might prove useful. ■The Veterans' Reserve was to be established in order to enable them to keep in touch with the very large number, of men ■ who had passed through any of the military forces of the! Crown and had a knowledge of soldiering, and who "would be prepared to register tiieir names to be called up for service in case of emergency. That force would lie open for ex-Re-gulars, ex-militia-men, special reservists, and men who had served in irregular corps in South Africa during the war. They did not propose to spend money in equipping or training the new reserve force. ,j.. : . What they wanted to get was a register of these people m order that, if it became ! necessary they might he called upon. They hoped by : these meaiis to enable units not only to." take the field on mobilisation at full strength, but; also go out for training' at full strength; or something very near it; and that would conduce to .the general efficiency of the Tetrritorial force. . >■'■ Lord Lansdowne said this was the. first they had heard of.what seemed to him a most new departure, the creation of a new reservo' outside, the Territorial Force as it existed it the present moment. They understood 'that tho Territorial Force \yas not merely for second line purposes, hut was to he part of the Central Force, 'which on' emergency would be used to meet an invasion. Were they to understand that the men on. thiiy' Central Force would be given no special instruction in musketry Lord Lucas in reply to the Duke of Bedford stated that it was not intended to exclude men under twenty years of age from the central part of the present Territorial Force, hut they had laid down that men undf-r twenty would not b.-> qualified for foreign service. They did not propose-to include in the Territorial Force on mobilisation men who hail not fired in the recruit's

I course of musketry, but if thev had I completed it and made themselves* fairly I good shots, they considered them fitted I to take their place in the ranks of the I force. J The War Office sent out to all Territorial Force Countv Associations a circular letter giving full details of the proposed, constitution of this triple reserve " widening the scope of the existing Territorial organisation by the formation of a reserve of suitable age who have shown themselves prepared to take part in the land defence of their country." County... associations will be authorised during the financial year 1910-11 to take steps to that end in accordance with Section 7 of the Territorial and Reserve Forces Act, and funds will bo provided for the purpose. The Territorial force reserve will be created for the purpose of making good deficits in the establishments of units, or of replacing officers and men who may-bo for any reason unavailable on mobilisation or ■during annual training. This' reserve will-also be used to replace the war casualties of the Territorial force. Numbers will be limited.' The establishment will bo calculated at; 33 per cent, of the officers and men on the establishment of the. Territorial force in each county, but this establishmea will only be worked up to gradually. .' The total establishment will, therefore, bo ultimately about 100,000 officers and men. The '"Technical Reserve " will, consist of individuals who, though they may have never served in any of the military forces of the. Crown, would v yet be able, in ;v time of national emergency, owing to special aptitudes,-'to fender* valuable service of an auxiliary character in connection with the national forces. : , '■'■-.... The " Veteran Reserve " will consist of officers and men who have served in anv of the military forces 'of tho Crown and are willing to register their.names to be called'up for service in the event of national emergency. Among them will be ex-Militiamen, ex-Imperial Yeonien, ex-Volunteers or _ ' Colonial force men. men holding the war medal. Age limit' for men, .50'; sergeants, ou; officers, 60. " '