The New Territorial Army
The interim statement by the Secretary of State for War in the House on Tuesday on the reconstitution of the Territorial Army confirms much that had already been anticipated, but leaves unsolved for the moment the question which is probably of most concern to the potential volunteer—the terms and conditions of service. As time is short—recruiting is to start on April 1st—it is to be hoped that at an early date Mr. Bellenger will be able to amplify his state- ment with another designed to throw light on such important matters as pay, rank, training and the future composition and affiliations of local units. Meanwhile the broad outline is becoming clearer. The first task of the Territorial Army will be the anti-aircraft defence of this country. Secondly, it will provide units needed for the conversion of the Regular Army into a properly balanced force. Lastly, it will provide a second line to the Regular Army and a basis for expansion in time of war (only in this last particular do its future duties conform with the original intentions of Lord Haldane). This is, by any measurement, a formidable programme. Modern weapons of war require a high standard of technical training, and the work and responsibility thrown on the shoulders of the part-time soldier in mastering them are correspondingly great. In this con- nection, however, the new Territorial Army will differ from the old in that the greater proportion of the force will consist either of volunteers who have already had training in the last war or conscripts who will have come to the end of their term of service with the colours. What is now most necessary is to ensure that the service conditions are such that they will attract the maximum number of the first class while at the same time encouraging the latter to volunteer for a further period when their enforced training has beef completed. For quite certainly the Territorial Army is still an integral part of the defence of this country, and its members, with all the advantages of past experience behind them, will be at least equal in value to the partially trained recruit in the Regular Army.
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