The Sun.
London, England, 1868-01-24 00:00:00

THE VOLUNTEERS.

On Thursday night the prizes won in the various Enfield
competitions of the past year by members of the St.
George's Rifle Corps were distributed in the Duke of
Wellington's Riding-school at Knightsbridge.

Lieutenant-Colonel the Hon. C. H. LINDSAY, M.P.,
eaid that a more intelligent and more military organisa.
tion was about to be given to the reserve forces of the
country, through the instrumentality of the new War
Office Controller. What that control would be he knew
not ; but it was clear that the volunteers ought to receive
the assurance, first that they would be armed with breech.
loaders as loon as possible ; secondly, that their equip-
ment should be completed as soon as possible, and stored
:or immediate use when necessary; and thirdly, that the
capitation grant should be increased, according to the desire
which had been expressed to the Secretary of State for War
Oy various commanding officers of volunteers throughout
the country. The communication of those three assurances
would be hailed with intense satisfaction, because it would

ive additional life and vigour to the movement, and
would assist materially in recruiting the ranks of the ser-
ve did not presume to give any decided opinion at
present on the new system about to be introduced ; but if
it was to be a success there must be but one ruling mind
for the government and control of all the military foroes
of this country, both regular and reserve. The organi-
sation of the reserve force was a matter of very great
importance, and it could not be separated from that of the
regular army. The two must be so linked together that
at a moment's notice unity of action may be realised and
the usual discreditable confusion avoided. Much had
been said with regard to forming district brigades, with
staff machinery and reserve force. Great advantage
would be gained by so doing, and additional advantage
would be derived from the two forces working together
when possible. But great discretion would be required

vice.

,in carrying out such a system to prevent too severe
a tax on volunteers whose time was not their own. Any
decided interference with the regular conduct of business
would militate against the interests of the volunteer ser-
vice. With regard to the general staff of the reserve force,
he thought it ought to be a permanent military body,
with power of unlimited extension in its working ma-
chinery. There was a difference of opinion as to what
should be the system of carrying on the new organi-
sation of the military forces of the country ; but he felt
that any distinction between the regular and the reserve
forces would be impracticable, because volunteers, if
%Idled out, would beconie part and parcel of the regular
truly, and therefore there should be but one controlling
power in each department, no matter whether in trans-
port, in commissariat, hospital, or provost - marshal.
Each department should possess power of expansion
to an unlimited extent in the working of its
machinery. Otherwise there could be no perfect organi-
sation. Some decided action was decidedly pressing, first,
because the efficiency of the reserve force, and he might
add of the regular army, was not _equal to their cost ; and,
secondly, because the reserve force would have to be con-
siderably increased. He entirely coincided with Lord
Elcho in regard to enforcing the ballot for the militia, the
only exemption being an effective membership in a volun-
teer corps. Considering the military organisations going
on on the Continent, he thought that step would soon be-
come necessary. Its adoption would increase the numbers
and efficiency of the volunteer force, and enable a reserve
volunteer force to be raised on the plan suggested by Lord
Truro, the members of which would not be required to
procure uniforms till it became necessary, though they
would be made an efficient body so far as military training
was conoerned.