Pioneer press. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1882-19??, 1915-04-17
TENANT APPROVES
OUR ARMY SYSTEM

-
donen OF even that. On the fourth
OF August, therefore, when war was
declared. 1T stood upon It's trial"
Apply this same description to the
American militia and you can read
the same significance Of Mr.. Ten
ants description in terms Of the Amer
lean military problem.
I'VE have now been nearly eight
months at war and nothing has hap
pened to necessitate our calling upon
the territorial force to perform the
service for which it was originally
1ntended-that is, to protect the coun-
try from invasion"
What has happened then to the
territorial force?" asked.
1T was, at the beginning of Au-
gust, some thousands below its paper
establishment. 1t is more than dou-
ble what it was originally intended
to be. We have territorials to the
total number originally provided for,
all or whom have volunteered for
foreign service; and, as a second line
to these, we have under training a
complete a second territorial force
consisting of regiments, battalions
and so forth corresponding to the
units Of the original force Other
units are also being raised
Territorial regiments and divisions
are already serving abroad, in India.
in Bermu, in Egypt, in Matte, in Glib
raltar. Months ago territorial regi-
ments were sent to the front aLG
very greatly distinguished themsel.
yes. Their work has been highly
praised in Sir John Fre17ch's dis
patches. The casualty lists in the
recent battle Of Nouve Chapelle show
that territorial regiments were in the
very front of the fight. The Sixth
Gordons and the Fourth Seaforlhs-
both Of them Scottish regiments in
particular suffered heavily. Now We
are sending out whole divisions of
terrltorlals, SO that the RAINY at the
front is being reinforced not merely
by territorial regiments nut by the
territorial foce as a MILITARY organ
ization. In the meantime, the re-
save battalions Of which have
SPOKEN are coming on fast at home"
Mr.. Tenant pointed out that he
had emphasized the organization and
work of the territorials simply be-
cause they were tn part of thu Brit
ish military forces about which, be-
fore the war, military critics abroad
had been most doubtful. The volu1-
tary system had been even more
strikingly justified in the case Of the
newer so-called Kitchener army.
which is enlisted on the basis Of
service for three years or for the
duration OF the war, and is recruited
to f1ght in any part or the world
ITO understand" he said, "the
Of
In time Of war, you have to realize
the difference between the new arm
les and the regular army which has
so brilliantly upheld it's splendid ira
ditions and which is and will remain
the backbone Of the British expedition
airy force. In peace time the regular
arnlv 2rmnctas With other forms Of
employment on what may be called
the ordinary plane of industry. It's
men are drawn from the class which
Is looking for work, and which, If 1t
does not go to the army, will go into
one or other Of the trades. The mo-
ment war was declared an entirely
different section Of the population
was tapped.
"YOu must have read in newspa-
pers and seen jokes In Punch about
ACSi ulto WuOSS wives get separation
allowances, but who actually have
incomes of several thousands a year
and keep motor cars. These stories
are literally and absolutely true. The
new armies are cross section of the
population. They contain the best
men from every stratum, from the la
borer to those who used to be called
the idle rich.
Il had a man in here 20 see me
the other day. he was home on short
leave from the trenches He has to
my knowledge private means Of 49,
900 pounds year, yet his wife draws
her separation alimony each week,
like the wife Of any other private.
All these men have gone in voluntar-
lily and because Of that came from
each layer Of the population, we have
got educated men, and men who have
enlisted because they are enthusiasts
tic for the vindication Of our cause.
these armies have been trained much
more rapidly than would otherwise
L.