A RESERVE OF ARMY PENSIONERS. [To THE EDITOR OP THE
"SPECTATOR."] Sin,—In the Spectator of October 26th you quote the Daily Express as responsible for the statement that the military authorities are preparing a scheme for a reserve of Army
pensioners for home defence. In this way it. is calculated that some thirty thousand men will be added to our home forces." You appear to regard "the scheme" as something new; but in fact all pensioners (of whom there are some seventy thousand) are liable for home service up to the age of fifty, and are not permitted to leave the King's dominions without the sanction of the War Office. A con- siderable number are now serving in the Royal Garrison Regiment and as barrack labourers, barrack wardens, canteen stewards, and as recruiters. A long article on this subject ' appeared in the Military Mail a few months ago: it was entitled "An Army Perdu," and called attention to this reterve of military strength, of which the public knows so