LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
SIR MICHAEL HICKS BEACH AND THE WAR OFFICE.
[TO TIla EDITOR OF TOR "SpEciveroa."1
Sia,—Some months recently spent in the ranks of the Army, both in South Africa and at home in barracks, have enabled me to gain some little insight into that extravagance on the part of the War Office which Sir Michael Hicks Beach has so strongly deprecated. Now, Sir, the first thing that strikes you on going into barracks is the fact that after he has finished his recruit drills the average soldier of the Line spends one hour each morning in drill, and the rest of the day from twelve onwards loafing in the canteen or on the streets. For the hour's work a day which he does he receives is. While he is loafing, however, the War Office is spending large sums of money in wages to civilians, who make not only the clothes and boots of the loafer, but even his rifle and ammunition. The existence of such a large body of loafers in the country is surely opposed to the very elements of political economy. You may compare them to Plato's " Guardians " in the "Republic," but Plato knew nothing of the short-service system,—the Guardians were soldiers for life. Every year thousands of unskilled labourers leave the Army, to swell but too often the ranks of the unem- ployed. In many cases, no doubt, they do obtain employ- ment, but the discharged soldier certainly finds himself at a disadvantage compared with his fellow-civilian ; as Mr. Kip- ling has said- " The man of five-and-twenty as 'ain't learn'd of a trade,
Besides Reserve' again' him, he'd better be never made." The irony of the situation is delightfully brought into relief when we examine the Report of the Inspector-General of Military Prisons for last year—I quote from the Standard, September 30th :—" The total number of prisoners during the year was six hundred and seventy more than in 1900, while the number punished for prison offences was forty less. A considerable diminution in the number of reports for idleness is apparent, which may be explained by the fact that the industrial employments carried on in place of mechanical and unproductive work [the italics are my own] enlist the interest of the prisoners, with the result that they apply themselves to
their tasks with a will, and work without coercion The figures show considerable increase in the amount of work done compared with past years,—the increase was chiefly in bedding made for the War Department. The quantity of canvas clothing made was comparatively small, but arrange- ments have now been made for the manufacture of a very large number of suits for the troops during the coming year. The value of the labour of the prisoners amounted to nearly 214,000."
Now, Sir, why should our soldiers be compelled to wait until they go to prison before they learn to make their own clothes and bedding ? The. Report proceeds : "Anxious that the soldiers in prison shall be kept in a state of military efficiency, the Inspector-General recommended, and the Commander-in Chief approved, that soldiers committed to prison shall in future bring their rifles with them." The irony is further heightened when we mad: "In the case of gunners, driven, Army Service Corps men, Stc., the opportunity will thus present itself to teach men who have never learned to use a. rifle how to shoot." It would indeed appear that the best thing to do. is to send the whole Army. to prison that. the one part may learn habits of industry instead of the merely mechanical and unproductive drill of the barrack-yard, and the other part may learn how to shoot ! Now, Sir, if the average Line soldier (I do not refer to cavalry and artillery, who are better employed) were compelled to learn a trade, the man who entered the Army at seventeen would leave it a skilled workman at twenty-four. Not only would such a system improve the economy and efficiency of the Army, but it would also help to solve the problem of technical education, for it would send out yearly upon the market a crowd of disciplined workmen. Military efficiency and the pursuit of a trade do not seem incompatible in a military prison; why, then, should not the two exist in the Regular Army ? Under some such system the soldier could add to his pay and compare favourably with the ordinary skilled workman. We should thus attract to the Army, or, failing that, manufacture, the class of intelligent men whom we are most in need of. The Reservists were, as we know, the back- bone of the Army during the late war, and they were the back- bone largely because they represented the thoughtful civilian element as opposed to the drilled "hooligan." Increased intelligence in the rank-and-file (and this is a very important point) is bound to react upon the officer. The most active officer can never make intelligent and industrious soldiers out of men who spend half the day loafing. On the other hand, intelligent and critical up-to-date soldiers will pretty effectually smarten indolent officers. If, for example, a subaltern finds himself in command of men who are expert rifle-makers, he will for very shame get to know the points of a rifle. Consider how vastly the economy and self-sufficiency of a regiment on active service would be increased if it consisted of skilled and intelli- gent workmen who would not sit and loaf while civilians erected their huts or repaired their boots. At the beginning of the late war a war correspondent reported that "Tommy" seemed utterly unable to rely on his own resources, even as far as boiling water for tea was concerned. How utterly different from his mate in the sister-Service! In conclusion, it is worthy of consideration that there are many parts of the Empire where England and all that we mean by the name are represented by the British soldier alone. It is impossible to estimate the benefit which might indirectly accrue to the fair name of England if we could improve in some such way as that which I have suggested the quality and " tone " of the men whom we send to represent us across the seas.—I am, Sir, Ste.,
[We agree. As long as the time is not stolen from learning that essential accomplishment of the soldier, rifle-shooting, the teaching of useful trades to our soldiers would confer an incalculable benefit on them and on the nation.—En. Spectator.]
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