The Red Cloud chief., 1900-02-23
OF VOLUNTEERS
The British Corps Numbers 100000
Unseasoned Men.
rAey have Never seen service, hut
They Are Eager TO Go 20 the Front
The honorable ARTILLERY
and yeomsnry.

The British volunteer corps as II cx-
lists to-day is the result of an enlist
mcnt act of 1850, the act, in turn, being
the fruit Of a fear Of invasion in that
wear. The volunteers number roughly
100000 men, cost the government a
trifc over S3.OOO,0OO a year, aud none
Of them ever has seen service. That is
to say. the volunteers as a body have
existed only since 1860, but there. are
two or three regiments which date
back far. indeed, notably the Victoria
rifles and the duke of Cumberland's
sharpshootcrs. which were in being
when William ". was prince OF Wales.
Older by far, however, is the Honorable
Artillery company, which received a
visit from its American offspring, the
Ancient and Honorable Artillery com
pany. Of Boston, last year, and which
will repay the compliment by making a
trip to the United States this year.
As he will be a regular when in the
field, the British volunteer will be treat
ed as one. He will receive "Tommy's"
pay, which is about $50 cents a day and
found" He will eat Mr.. Atkins ra-
tions-a pound OF timed meat and
half a pound Of fresh meat, when it can
be had, fresh bread or crackers-he will
call them 'biscuits"-and sugar, tea
and coffee, when possible. His kit,
blankets and great coat he will furnish
himself, but the government will trans
port him to the scene Of action,
Friends and advocates Of the volun-
teers and yeomanry say that those
branches Of the service have been dis
couraged, sneered at and generally sat
on by the war Office ever since their es-
iablishment, and that their acceptance
for service now may be regarded as a
great victory, giving to Lord Lands
downe the credit for the new order Of
things. An officer connected with the
war office told me-, however, that the
hubbub was entirely without reason,
that all the noise was made by a few
indictments. and that no change what
ever had taken place under Lord Lands
downe's administration so far as the
volunteers were concerned. On the
other hand, people who have no par
ticular interest in the volunteers say
that their being permitted to take part
in the war at this time is a direct insult
to the militia.
At any rate. il can never be said that
the volunteers, to whom was given that
chance, were slow to accept it, as q
score or more of commanding officers
throughout London and the provinces
who are being harassed TO desperation
10y every individual member of their
commands, can testify. Men have al
most taken to figuring on their chances
for going with paper and pencil. Foi
Instance, | have heard volunteers say:
There are 1000 men in my battalion
and there will be 40 chosen; that gives
me about Il chance in ten. Then my
record for craftsmanship is so MANY
points, and craftsmanship is going I,
be the deciding test, and the genera
average is about so much" etc. WheI
the fortunate l1O-"fortunate" is tn,
volunteers word-are told off there i.
going to he actual bitterness.
The venerable organization Of hon
orabIr artillery and yeomanry wa.
formed 10y Henry Will, in 1907 for, a,
the king quantity put it, "the better'
enCrease of the defense Of this on
realm This company, then, wa
formed more than Il full century befor,
amy other existing corps; il was in gar
risun AT TilburS when Drake met Phil
ip's Armada; ii fought under Crom
well in the civil wars and was almos
wiped out by the great plague. Later
half of its barracks was destroyed il
the London fire. Since its beginning i
has taken part in all public ceremonial
and all crownings of sovereigns o
England.
The leomanry. 10000 of whom vii
he selected for service in South Africa
dates back as a force much further tina
the volunteers or militia. The Ieo
many consists entirely Of cavalry, an
It's members are mostly country gentle
men who are in the saddle much of tn
time. They are obliged to furnish thei
own mounts and equipment, and ar
drilled much more severely and fro
Queutly than either of the other NV
branches Of volunteers. Their total
1900, and they cost the govcrnmCI
S3fj.rJo annually. The first detacl
mrut Of l,OUU sailed on January l5.-
Cincinnati Commercial Tribune.
ItnI.s- nlI,n lr.n