Whatever - view is the true view in regard to national
service, the Government view is clearly indefensible. Even Whatever -view is the true view in regard to national service, the Government view is clearly indefensible. Even their own most devoted organs in the press are beginning to discover this. After a conventional gibe at the attitude taken up by Lord Lansdowne, the Parliamentary corre- spondent of the Daily Chronicle proceeds :— "On the other side are Colonel Seely and Lord Crewe lamenting the shortage of 60,000 men in the Territorial Force, but offering no glimmer of an idea of any practical proposal for making up the deficiency. If our military necessities need a Territorial Force of 313,000 men, then in Heaven's name let us take steps to see that that number is provided and maintained. A policy of masterly inactivity is unworthy of statesmen. Were the voluntary system, of which we are justly proud in this country, to break down, no small share of the resultant discredit will attach to a Liberal Government which, after the impetus given by Lord Haldane's enthusiasm was spent, never gave any seiious thought to the Territorials or to the functions which the force has to fulfil in the scheme of national defence."
When a faithful Liberal newspaper thus shows signs of disgust with the "medley of philosophy and war," the end cannot be very far off.
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