LORD DERBY'S SCHEME.
[To nue EDITOR OP THE " SPECTATOR-1
Snt,—It appears from " Territorial's " letter in the Spectator of December 18th that the provisional battalions have not at present the sight enjoyed by the rest of the country of signing on under the group system. This seems very hard on the married men among them, who from the beginning were anxious to do all they could, but were prevented by family responsi- bilities from going to the front. Should compulsion be introduced, they will come in with the shirkers who have waited to be forced. Should it not be introduced, they would still wish to have the privilege which has been given to ordinary citizens of showing their willingness to serve abroad when their group is called up. Moreover, it would be at once seen what men, if any, were sheltering from foreign service under home defence.—I am,
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