THE FUTURE EMPLOYMENT OF OUR DISABLED AND DISCHARGED SOLDIERS.
(To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR.") SIR,—Through the medium of your columns I would beg to place before the public a proposal which has been well recom- mended from influential quarters, and which I feel will have great interest throughout the country at the present moment,— the employment of our partially disabled soldiers. Already the War Office is feeling the burden of this responsibility, and various plans such as " military registries, local organisa- tions for furthering the employment of ex-soldiers, appeals, Press advertisements, influential aids, &c.," are being put forward by the Secretary of State for War for the future employment of those who have been willing to risk, for the honour and welfare of their country, life, limb, and indeed the whole of their• future careers, thereby not only affecting themselves, but those dependent upon them. It is, then, the duty of the Government, and our duty, to ameliorate this condition as far as possible, and to find work for the disabled or partially disabled, so that they are at least provided with a fair means of sustenance, and I venture through your columns to draw public attention to the suggestion "that such partially disabled soldiers as may be capable, having first qualified as instructors, might be given permanent occupation for the purpose of drilling and training the youth of the country to the use of arms through the introduction of manual drill for boys in the curriculum of the higher standards of the schools under the Board of Education." If accepted the proposal would have a double advantage,—(a) the permanent employment of those whom it should be the pleasure and duty of the country to reward; (b) the founda- tion of a practically trained body which in time of need might be called upon as a very valuable reserve. With regard to the payment of these men, it is suggested that in addition to their pensions a weekly salary should be provided from the school funds, and it is not unreasonable that one man should attend as many as ten different classes per week. Frequent expression has been made by many public men of the desire that the normal strength of the Army should be increased, and although the recruiting returns may at present be satisfactory, yet at the end of our present wars a falling off must be expected. It is not possible to overrate the im- portance of obtaining the views of the country on this sugges- tion, and the probability of an early dissolution of Parliament makes the present time a fitting one for public discussion of the merits of the proposal, which is now put forward with that object. It is also suggested with regard to the local rifle clubs, shooting ranges, &c., which it is desired by all to see established, that these should be systematically conducted from official quarters and under the superintendence of our discharged soldiers, qualified to instruct; a secondary advan- tage being thereby gained through the influence of these men acting indirectly as recruiting sergeants.—I am, Sir, &c., REGINALD R. GARRATT.
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