The Star. TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 1913. THE HOME TERRITORIALS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10679, 28 January 1913, Page 2

The Star. TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 1913. THE HOME TERRITORIALS.

Tiler©'lias been so marked a decline in the recruiting results for the Homo Torritorials that the military authorities are feeling decidedly uneasy, and General Bruco Hamilton- is really alarmed. Last month Lord Heischell raised tbo question in the House of Lords, and stated that on October 1 tho forco numbered about 261,400 of all ranks—that is to say, some 51,600 below the establishment. If, then, wo are to test the efficacy of the voluntary principle on which the force is based by the matter of numbers, tho. result is certainly not very satisfactory. If we add the further test of camp-training results the principle comes out in even worse colours. The men enlist and serve voluntarily, and it is. creditable to their patriotism that by far the greater_ number of them put in their full fifteen days, but when one goes into figures in detail it is- found that out of a total of 261,000 only 6855 officers and 155,000 non-commissioned and men received the amount of training which at best can only be regarded, as a minimum for a Home defence force. The figures are only for one year's camps, and if the whole four years were taken, the numbers of those who were either able or willing to. put in their full term would bo much smaller. Those who spent eight days and less than fifteen days 'in camp totalled 1014 officers and 06,366 men, or more than -a fourth of the numbers enrolled, while no fewer than 1362 officers and 33,350 men did not attend camp at all. Of the latter section, it is disappointing to note, officers and 6019 non-commissioned officers and men were absent without leave. These figures are official, and it is obvious that the. fall below tho establishment strength does not represent tho full extent of the weakness in the force which the official comparisons disclosed. Of the recruits and trained men tested in musketry, 143)000 qualified and 34,500 failed. If the figures quoted are to he relied upon, there is reason to fear that the force is approaching dissolution, and that soon Parliament will, have to face a measure for ensuring the military training of the young manhood of Britain. In 1909 the recruits numbered 110,000. In 1911 the number was under 40,000. It is time that during the vear ended September 30, 1912, nearly 58,000 joined, but that increase was'tho result of a touring mission by Lord Haldane himself before he, retired from office, and there is no one possessed of the same tact and zeal likely to make a similar mission. The Territorial system is certainly not fulfilling the hopes of its promoters, and inviewof that fact one cannot blame Lord Roberts and those who think with him for urging upon the people of Britain the necessity for national service from the youth of the country. Wo all laud the gallant unselfishness to which both Volunteers and Territorials owed thvir existence, but as neither have fiiled tho defence wants of the nation sc:r.o other scheme more efficient, more per--1 manent and more far-reaching will sooner of later have to ho adopted,to provide for the, defence of the Homeland. i