[TO TER EDITOR Or THE "SPECTATOR. "]
Sin,—As a Liberal may I accept your invitation to comment on the proposals of those who advocate National Service and universal training You have done well to summarize, in your issue of November 30th, the proposals of the National Service League, for I doubt if many people know what these proposals are. May I ask if you seriously think that four months' recruit training will fit your two millions of men to fight, say, the dreaded Germans ? We are assured that we can count upon no time for training the Territorials after mobilization. So, of course, we cannot reckon upon any breathing space for the National Service Leaguers. Have you realized that the N.S.L. has no plan for training the officers other than the four months' compulsory recruit course, which applies to all ranks ? Can it seriously be claimed that this four months' training, on the lodger system, will either teach men discipline or be "a great advantage" to them in respect of physical training ? Are you in earnest in suggesting that any young man can evade liability by the simple process of making an oath before a magistrate ? The truth is that the N.S.L. scheme only requires to be fully under- stood for any reasonable person to see how inadequate it is. If it is not to be taken as the thin edge of the wedge, as you say it is not, it has nothing to recommend it at all, and would give us no practical return for the great outlay it would involve. Though questions of arms, equipment, transport, and staff for these millions are conveniently overlooked in discussion, they cannot be ignored. Only one man has ever had it in his power to bring about compulsory military service in our country, and that man was Earl Roberts when he returned from the South African War, with the startling revelations of our unpreparedness uppermost in men's minds, with a wave of militarism sweeping over England, and with his own political friends in office with a huge majority. Such an opportunity will not occur again. The next best thing— and a right good thing too—would be a scheme for the com- pulsory training of all boys between the ages of fourteen and sixteen in physical exercises, the elements of drill, and in rifle shooting. So far and no further should all parties be invited to join in supplementing the Territorials by a scheme for universal military training.—I am, Sir, &c., C. S. 0.
[Our correspondent does not seem to have heard of the Swiss army. The Swiss (and also the Norwegians) do what he says is impossible both as regards men and officers. Further, his argument would lead to the abolition of the Territorials, which we take it is not his desire.—ED. Spectator.]
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