The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-11-19
A cuRIoUs MILITARY oFFENsE.
A Chance to Catch the Professional
Summer Soldier.
BY Mlcnael Gifford White,

BY Michael Clifford White,
Q.ate Captain Third British Scottish
Rines9
fhe present calling out of the militia
viii afford the British war Office the first
opportunity Of judging the extent of
curious military offense, believed TO be ex-
tensively praeticed-that of men enlisting
and serving often in as many as three or
four different regiments at the same time
The opportunity 10 accomplish this end
is afforded by the variation in the climate
of the British Isles, the militia regiments
being called out for their yearly train
ing many of them to 90 into camp at
separate seasons-from the early spring in
the south of England to the late autumn
in Scotland il is, therefore, possible for,
say, Private Jones to soldier for TWEEN
ty-seven days in April with the Hamp5
shire regiment; for the same man, under
the name of CorpL Thomas, to do TWEEN
ty-seven days more in the m-dlands IN
July; and yet another twenty-seven days
as Sergt MacDougal in some lowland
Scotch regiment in September. 1t is no
uncommon circumsta lance upon the first
yearly parade of a militia regiment late
in the season to detect several men with
the Unmistakable sun mark OF the Scotch
cap across their forebeads; which on being
variably offered is remarkable. In a con-
fidential tone, as if TO hide the fact from
his comrades, he has only just come out
of prison, where somewhat similar caps
are worn.
This may or may not be true, but by
the time that the prison authorities in
question can be communicated with the
twenty-seven days are over, and Corpl.
Thomas has departed from ont the juris-
dction of that particular regiment; per-
haps, to serve another twenty-seven days
somewhere else. The reason why such
men do not enlist into the regular army
is, that they are naturally of a rowing
disposition, and do not care to be bound
for military service throughout the year,
finding, probably, more lucrative employ
meut in the intervals.
The general standard and efficiency of
the men who compose this, the second line
of defense of the British empire, though
below that required by the regulars, is yet
creditable, and in the course of the four or
five consecutive months drill and dlsci-
pine, now before them, with some Judi
eious wedding, they should be able to ac-
compish any work, either at home or
abroad which they may be called upon t.
| undertake.
It was found, at first, difficult to officer
| the militia force Members of the county
families were adverse to Sandhurst's strin-
| gent ana Dlndlng regulations, so IN order
to induce young men to apply for commits
| sions in the militia, number of commits
| sions in the regulars were yearly thrown
open to militia officers upon competitive
examination in purely technical subjects
| And from this back door to the British
! regulars, as distinct from the Sandhurs;
| entrance, corresponding in the Uni ed
| States to West Point, such admirable re
suits have been obtained that the number
of line commissions offered through III
militia have been largely increased; it be,
! ing found that while a man may be g
numskun over his Latin grammar, and &
mule at the ''pons assinorum,'' he may YET
| possess a genius for military tactics, anC
| be a born commander of men.
| And not only in officers but in men also
| the militia has become a great feeder tC
| the regular army, in 1894 5000 passing from
the ranks of the former to that of the
| latter force.
The general service in the militia is pre-
| liminary training of two months an6
| twenty-sevep days with the colors every
years thereafter; with the possibility of be.
! ing called out for indefinite periods Of duty
| by act of Parliament, at any period of ma.
| tional emergency.
The pay of the officers. when upon ser.
vice. is the same as that of their corre
| spending grades in the regulars; and thai
/ of the men twenty-five cents day wi
rations, and bounty of $40 at the end q
! each yearly training, which, however is
| liable 10 be reduced by flnes for varlou.
| n1isdemeanOrs