I am not concerned with the writer's own opinions, but
I join issue with him when he claims as an expert to dogmatise on the Volunteer Force. I challenge, in particular, one sentence to the effect that "seven-tenths of the Volunteer Force is absolutely beneath contempt," and that that is "recognised not only by Regular officers, but by Volunteer officers of the best class as well.' I claim this extraordinary assertion to be as inaccurate as it is offensive. As a member of three of the leading Volunteer tactical societies (which are supposed to consist mainly of the "best officers"), as one who has been an honorary member of many Volunteer messes, has drilled with many corps, and knows well many scores of Volunteers, I refute altogether the unfor- tunate language that he puts into the mouth of the "best Volunteer officers," and deny his right to speak in their name.
That the Volunteer Force in general, and Volunteer officers in particular, are disliked by many (perhaps by most) Regular officers, I readily concede to him. I go further, and say that, in my opinion, this dislike has increased since the Volunteer Force was able to help a little in connection with the Boer War, and since the general improvement in the military knowledge of
If the lack of moderation shown by "Adjutant, Volunteer Artillery," in the selection of his phraseology may be taken as an indication of his general principles, the Volunteer Force will always remain a terra incognita to him. He is sympathetic with the " War Office" in its "attempts" "to obtain military value for the public money spent on the Volunteer Force" but is not his sympathy misplaced ? It is the nation which finds the money, and the nation finds the sum for the Volunteer Force cheerfully, and is prepared for the development of its citizen army to find still more, if it is not retarded from doing so by those who, alas ! as your contributor, seem to find in the Volunteers the annoy- ance of an imagined rival rather than the humble devotion of a comrade in the patriotic cause.
—I am, Sir, &C., VOLUNTEER COMMANDING OFFICER.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR,"
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