As to the remains of the Regulars who are supposed
to form the backbone of the defending force, Lord Roberts recalled the fact that during the Boer War he was specially told that he must not ask for more Regulars, as there were none left in the country to send him. The truth is, we want a double insurance in a matter• so vital, and the cheapest and best way of getting it is to let the foreigner know that our population, without being turned into professional soldiers, are so well trained to arms that it would be madness to attempt to invade us unless the invading State could find transports for a million and a half of men. If we remember that while securing this complete cover from the risk of invasion we should also be conferring incalculable benefits, moral, physical, and intellectual, upon our population, and completing that system of national education which is now only half an education, we have the case for national service.in a nutehell.
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