The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1871-02-25 00:00:00

The P.istoral cone'uded eith an appeal for the
Catholic orphanages at North Hyde, Norwooc', and at
Rainy stead.
THE POSTMASTER•GENERAL AND
THE VOLUNTEERS.

01 Tuesday evening the distriliution of prizes to
the 49th Middlesex (Post-office Rile.) took place at
Guillllsll, Lcnden, and after the various winLers had
receivtd their rewards of merit, Mr. Monsel, M.Y,
(the Postmaater•General), said—
•• • •

It gave him great pleasure to come amongst them, and to
testily by his presence his sense of the value of the work
they were engaged in. It was to him a great gratiticatton
to be brought raoe to face with so many of those who
were employed in the l' rst.ctlice under him, for he thought
it was good that they should meet one ano'hor, and hove
contldence and kindly feeling towards one another which
were sirengthened by such gatherings. Attar pay Fp a
high compliment to the effl ;honey of the corps,
he dwelt upon the importance of the volunteer movement,
if properly carried out, and With tried a comparison between
the military syste m which prevailed in this country and
that of conscription If they deoired to keep off the pos-
sible nocossity of haviog compulsory military service, they
most go on as they had commenced aid imp-ova from day
to day, for recent events elsewhere had but too sadly ohown
that it was absolutely essential for men who were to iii
brought into the lieht to face an en, my, that they should
have practised military dlopositions in a practical form
and have gone through the necessary drill in the car. ful
manner in which the report of Colonel Taylor witted him
the 49,11 had done. Without that drill and knowledge
of military movements they tori;itt mot assured that
shooting was useless. Without it, no matter how high
spirited or bravo they might bo, if they hit not drill,
perfect and c rmplete, they were but like a dick of sheep,
and nothing would protect tern against the force of
diociplined troops. He (Mr. Hansel ) might tell them
that it was only in August la t, when ho met General
Trochu directly after the that defeat which the
French had suffered, he sald, whit a sadness which
he Mr. 31 msell) should never forget, that time was no
time to repair the disaster; for it was cpt to Impotalble
to train men on the instant to meet those who sr ere
so well disciplined and opposed to them ; but he added,
"we will get on as well as we can, but we go on witi.-
out hope." It was useless, lateen, to nitric that men
could be speedily trought up to the use of arms or etlialent
drill. II was only by careful, gardens, and steely teaining
that the 'roulette proficiency could be attained; and how-
ever rapidly a man might become a good she; which was a
mit valuable adjunct, he cold only become a good sol. Fer
by careful attention to drill arid military discipline. W.th
regard to the rifle practioo of Ve volunteerc he consider, d
that there straild be more shooting at moving oi jrc's as d
unknown distances so as to qualify marksmen lar actual
warfare. .

Lie conc'uded by saylng that he coil n t forbear remark-
ing tly.t it was to him a melancholy thoug,...t that those over
whom he presided ehtu'd hove to devote the;r at!entlon to
matters such as those on which he had eddrese e 1 them It
was especially so to have to address inch oservotionstO
those whoa duty It was to develop the worts of peace, and
communicate to distant notions the friendly Intercourao of
the wont; but colt was, and 11 .gland 0n54 be per a-ed for
every contingency, for he (Mr ne:11) a isdeed, much
afraid that with all the prof. Stlioll3 of civilisation, amity, and
concord there we. a feeling—an undercurrent of but smell
reopect for treaties. which might trig about that which
would proto the necessity of their being prepared.