The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1900-02-23
BRITISH VOLUNTEERS
4 Quarter Of q Million Unseasoned
Men Who Are Anxious for
Service.

The British volunteer corps as it ex-
lists to-day is the result of an enlist
ment act of 1860, the act, in turn, being
the fruit of fear of invasion in that
year. The volunteers number roughly
100000 men, cost the government a
trifie over 100000 year, and none
of them ever has seen service. That is
to say, the volunteers as 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
sharpshooters, which were in being
when William ". was prince of Wales.
Older by far, however, is the Honorable
Artillery company, which received
visit from its American offspring, the
Ancient and Honorable Artillery COM
pany, of Boston, last year, and which
will repay the compliment by making
trip to the United States this year.
AS he will be regular when in the
field, the British volunteer will be treat
ed as one. He will receive ''Tommy's"
pay, which is about go cents day and
found" He will eat Mr.. Atkins ra-
tions-a pound of timed meat and
half pound of fresh meat, when it can
be had, fresh bread or crackers-he will
call them ''biscuits" 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 volnn-
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-
Establishment, and that their acceptance
for service now may be regarded as
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 direct insult
to the militia.
At any rate, it can never be said that
the volunteers, to whom was given that
chance, were slow to accept it, as a
score or more of commanding officers
throughout London and the provinces,
who are being harassed to despera ton
by every individual member of their
commands, can testify. Men have al
most taken to figuring on their chances
for going with paper and pencil. For
instance, l have heard volunteers say:
''There are 1000 men in my battalion,
and there will be 40 chosen; that gives
me about one chance in ten. Then my
record for craftsmanship is so many
points, and craftsmanship is going to
be the deciding test, and the general
average is about so much," etc. When
the fortunate 110-''fortunate" is the
| volunteers Word-are told off there is
going to be actual bitterness.
The venerable organization of hon.
| orable artillery and yeomanry was
formed by Henry VIII. in 1907 for. as
the king quantity put it, 1.-THE bettere
encrease of the defense of this our
realm This company, then, was
formed more than full century before
any other existing corps; it was in gar
rison at Tilbury when Drake met Phil
Ups Armada; it fought under Crom-
we'll in the civil wars and was almost
wiped out by the great plague. Later,
half of its barracks was destroyed in
the London fire. Since it's beginning it
has taken part in all public ceremonials
and all crownings of sovereigns of
England.
The Yeomanry, 10000 of whom will
be selected for service in South Africa,
dates back as force much further than
the volunteers or militia. The Yeo-
many consists entirely of cavalry, and
its members are mostly country gentle
men who are in the saddle much of the
time. They are obliged to furnish their
own mounts and equipment, and are
drilled much more severely and fire.
| quently than either of the other two
branches of volunteers. Their total is
1000, and they cost the government
$375,000 annually. The first detach-
| ment of 1000 sailed on January 49,
Cincinnati Commercial Tribune.
Post Office in u Rock.
Recently, consequent on the institn.