The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-07-08 00:00:00

The Times has the following leader on the Review :

Every one concerned—the Prince of Wales, the Volunteers, I
the Goverernent, and the country—may be congratulated
upon the Review which was held In Hyde Park on Saturday.
The Prince of Wales, in the first place, has reason to be more
than satisfied with the hearty reception which was given to
himself and the Princess. It was a happy idea to sienaliee
his return from India by some great public spectacle which
should partake at once of an official and of a voluntary
character ; and a Review of the Volunteers provided just the
charecter befitting the occasion. The mere eumeers in
which the Force assembled furnished a striking expression
of public regard, particularly when we bear in
mind the great distances from which many Corps
had to come, and the sacrifices which of their
own accord they made for the purpose. But the vast
masses of spectators who assembled, and their unvarying
enthusiasm, offered a still more conspicuous welcome. Our
report describes the patience with which the people waited,
often hopelessly, for a glimpse of the Prince and Princess, the
eagerness with which the Royal pair were looked for, and
the warmth With which they were greeted. The Peiuce may
have the legitimate satisfaction of feeling that the enter-
prise and public spirit evinced by his Indian journey have
given larna a fresh hold upon the hearts of the people ; and be
cenuot fail to arpreciate so significant an illustration of the
means by which public corfliience is won.
But the Prince appeared in public for the immediate pur-
pose of reviewing the Volunteers, and it is to them, in the
mein, that the success of the day is to be attributed. Had
they exhibited defects, whether in numbers, in physical
cspacity. or in military efficieney, no loyal enthusiasm could
have made amende for so subetantial a disappointment. The
aettiorities of the Army, indeed, might well have hesitated
to put the Force to se severe and sudden a test as a Review
held in Hyde-park at two or three weeks' notice. Notheag,
It is true, can be more essential than to put their
efficiency to the proof from time to time, but too con-
sieerable a demand might lead to an undue discourage-
ment. It required great confidence in the Force to put
them to this trial, and the confidence has been jestifiee in
every way. Of course, imperfections were obvious, and are
duly indicated in cur report. There were a few nnpunctual
stragglers who marred the general display of smartness and
completeness. There were occasional roughness visible in
the composition of companies, and some unavoidable evi-
dence of lack of adequate knowledge on the part of the
officers. But it is only necessary to mention these partial
defects once for all in order to &vied the appearance of too
unqualified praise. The general result was beyond all
expectation satisfactory. nes strength in which, as a rule,
the various Corps assembled bore testineony to the quality
which is the most important of all—that of readiness to
obey any summons which may be addressed to them.
. Bearing this in mind, no one could witness the
march past of the 30,000 men who were on the
ground without a genuine and legitimate pride in the mili-
tary capacities of his countrymen. In point of physical size
and vigour the men, as a whole, made a most favourable im-
pression; and this impression will be enhanced if it is
remembered that the men were not, as is ordinarily the case
In an Army, picked so as to reach a fixed standard, but that
they were something like a fortuitous concourse of men of all
classes of society. The country gentry, professional men,
' tradesmen, and working men from town and country, were
all represented, and were brought together by no other
motive than a voluntary Inclination to render any military
service in their power. That men of this con-
spicuous capacity and vigour are to be had in
such numbers for the asking can leave no doubt of
the resources of this country under any great pres-
sure. About one-fifth of the whole available Volunteer Force
may he considered to have been on Saturday under arms,
and regarding them, as we undoubtedly may, for the reason
jest stated, as a fair specimen of the whole, the value of the
Force, which in some quaiters has lately been questioned,
must be regarded as placed beyond dispute. In efficiency
and military aptitude they exhibited a greeter Improvement
than could have been anticipated by any who have not
noticed the constant vigilance which has of late years been
bestowed upon them. After the enthusiasm with which the
movement was started, there coal(' be no question that the
Force showed a tendency to fall ff alike in numbers and in
quality, and it became necessary for the Government
to apply stricter and stricter tests as a condition for
pecuniary aid. This win lesome strictness, however, instead
of acting, as the feebler spirits had apprehended, as a
discouragement, had the effect of rendering the Force more
attractive by making it more real. Or e simple comparison
of figures is enough to indicate the results which have been
attained. In 1863 out of 163,000 men enrolled, about 114,1:00,
or less than 70 per cent., were efficient. But in 1575 mit of
181,000 men enrolled, about 169,00, or more tnan 93 per
cent., were efficient ; the standard of efficiency having itself
also been raised. The substantial meaning of these figures
was on Saturday placed beyond a doubt. So far, at all
events, as the rank and file went there were regiments which
would not have been discredited by a direct comparison
with Regular troops ; and the best regiments in a Volun-
tary Force, even more than in a Regular one, tend to
raise the others up to their level. The men, by the mere
fact of their Volunteering, exhibit a spirit of mili-
tary emulalon, and they may be relied upon not to ac-
quiesce in mediocrity 'l'o stimulate this spirit is, perhaps,
the ereatest use of a Review. To be reviewed in company
with other corps is the best of all tests of efficiency. Volun-
teers from various districts are enabled to judge of the
standard which they ought to reach; and when the Review
Is conducted I.y so eminent a personage as the Prince of
Wales the men are sure to be put on their mettle. In this
case the regiment which seems to have won the most un-
Lwricdhenethrsewipllrne;stinfocersgettihnutsheofpuptousree thtoe ftohrmemid.abl ad
y
qualified applause came from a Midland county, an
This
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hibition .of the attainments of the Force has been held
at en opportuee moment of its history, and we may
reasonably expect that it will talk; a fresh and a vigorousiwzetoiot y
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be expected that the closer amalgamation of alinotUr el'tomrceys
consequent on Lord Cardwell'sretorm
retiredswiilfeciiitaotffie aenrsim-
provement in this respect, by encouraging
the Regular Army to PiVe their services, as Volunteers' But
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this defect must be carefully attended to, and must in sortie
way be remedied, if due justice is to be duue to the other
high qualities of the Force.
Before dismissing the subj9ct it would be unjust not to
award a warm tribute of praise both to the authorities who
were responsible for the arrangements in the Park and to the
crowds who submitted to them. The plan of dispensing with
stands, and simply railing off enclosures, was tar mere sue.