The Washington herald., 1914-09-27
.LONDONPROUD
OF WAR RECORD
Capital Has Been Supplying
England with Soldiers for
Centuries.
CITY MEN TO THE FRONT
Large Part of the Million Soldiers
Called by Kitchener Will Come
from Metropolis.
CITY MEN TO THE FRONT
speciaI cable o The washinrton Her.N.

Special Gable to The Washington Herlh.
London, Sept 6-The city Of Londor
is priding itself on its patriotism. A largt
part of the million men Earl Kitchener
promises to send to the Continent VOL
undoubtedly come from the greatest city
in the world. Leaders in municipal affairs
are making patriotic speeches
In this regard II is interesting to recall
the long record CT warfare which the
supply and to fit out men for the English
Kings.
Throughout the centuries in which the
English constitution was growing up and
when one war was hardly over before q
| successor took its place. the city played
a brave part. Under Edward in 1918 II
provided and furnished 200 men to fight
against the Scotch, a number. 1t is re-
corded, five times as great as that raised
by any other city in the kingdom.
Also Furnishes Fleet.
In 1854 the citizens presented Edward
II with twenty-five men-at-arms and 500
archers. all attired in similar uniforms,
TO serve with his army then in France,
and six years later that gift was supple
mented by a further one Of a fleet OF 80
sail, with 14.0O0 men on board, bound for
the same destination.
pletely equipped a regiment Of 1000 men
for Henry VIII to serve in France. while
forty years later, in the reign OF good
Queen Bess. they sent a considerable
number of men to help the Dutch against
the Spaniards.
In 1853 the city supplied and equipped
1000 men to assist in placing Henry Of
Navarro upon the throne Of France,
while in 1886 the lord mayor twice raised
oh fal
in less than twelve hours. to proceed TO
the relief Of the French in Calais, which
was then being besieged by the Spaniards.
In the first year of the seventeenth cen-
tury 900 soldiers were raised for service
in Ireland. and in l ga the citizens pro-
vided and armed 1000 men, whom they
placed at the disposal of James l for the
camapign in Germany.
1t is further recorded that in 1914 there
was a great muster in the city, the King
having appointed after harvest a general
muster all England over. Then did the
citizens show themselves very forward
in practiCing all points of war and mill
tary discipline. And for the well man
aging of this muster, the Lord Mayor
and commonalty appointed twenty cap
tains TO be selected Of the most active
and able citizens, and unto each Of them
he allotted 800 shot and pixies. viz: 5000
er. bravely furnished"
In 164O the city raised 500 men for
Charles I to serve against the Scots.
Record of the Restoration.
In the year Of the Restoration there
were in the city of London and its lib
critics six regiments of trained bands.
six regiments of auxiliaries and one regi-
ment OF horse. The twelve regiments of
foot consisted of eighty companies and
each company comprised not less than
80 men. the whole totalinG more than
70, 90 soldiers. while> the regiment OF
horse consisted of six troops. each con-
tanning 100 men. Charles II regarded
this force as being so highly useful. not
only to the city. but also for assuring
the safety of his own person, that he
sent to the GuildhaIl a commission OF
lieutenancy. appointing several distin-
guished men to act as lieutenants in Lon
don, giving them the same power that
the neutenants OF the counties in Eng
land possess.
On June 80, 1903 the common council
agreed to a request from the home sec
retary to furnish so men for the army
Of reserve, fixing the proportion TO be
furnished by each ward and the rates to I
be paid. 1t was decided to mobilize the |
different corps in four divisiOns-St |
Paul's, Royal Exchange. Northeast and |
Further, it was resolved to |
form associations of all inhabitants, |
from eighteen to forty-five years of age,
for drill and discipline, while those who !
were more than forty-five were enrolled !
as special constables.
A Patriotic Message.
On July IS, 5000 leading merchants as
sembled at the Royal Exchange. who !
were addressed by the Lord Mayor in |
he following spirited words:
we are determined to stand by our
King and country. We are fighting for
hat constitution. that system of society.
which is at once the noblest monument
and firmest bulwark of civilization We
are fighting for the independence of ma
ions, even of those who are most blind
y Indifferent to our fate, or most
Jealous Of cur prosperity"
The oath of allegiance was administer
ID to the men under the dome of st.
oaurs; to officers individually and to the
orivates six at a time.
No account OF the patriotism of the
.ity. however brief, would be complete
Without reference to the raising of the
.ity Of London's Imperial Volunteers,
The Lord Mayors own" in 1899, for
service in South Africa. The entire
egiment. consisting of sixty-four officers,
md 1,675 men, total !, ,739 (of whom sixty
me were killed. sixty-one wounded, and
So invalided, was sent out at the ex-
,ense of the corporation. the city mer-