The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1919-06-02


brigades Of the cavalry divisions. ana
the Northumberland. Northampt"n anu
Surveys were employed as dIN'S'"na!
cavalry The same practical value al
tached 10 tho Warwickshlr" battery OF
horse artillery. upon which LORD Brooke
had e1 pended so much tim" and energy
for years preceding the war.
Twenty-thrcc battalionS Of territorial
infantry were sent TO France IN IVA.
or these the London Scottish ana inc
infantry battalion of the Honorable M
tillcry Company arrived IN September.
The Fifth Border Regiment. ArtlstS
Rifles, sixth Welsh. Fifth iilaCk Watch.
Queens WcStminStcrs. Tenth l.!Ncrpo"lS
(Scottish). Thirteenth London ttount5
OF I.oudon). Eighth Royal Scots. Ninth
Highland Light Infantry. Firth Scottish
Rifles, Ninth London Regiment. Fourth
Royal Welsh Fusillcr$. Second Mon
mouths. Hcrtfordshlrr. Fourth ScaforIh
Highlandcrs. Fourth Sutfolks. Skin
Chcshires and Sixth Gordon Highlandcr5
arrived in November. while the Sew
enth Argyll and Sutherland Highlandcrs
and the Twelfth London came in De
ccmber.
These units were all put through
course Of training ut ST. Oner. INere
was great difference, between indi-
condition when they came. out and tho
! time required TO prepare them TO take
their places in tho trenches.
Some were much better commanded
and differed than others. There was
marked distinction TO be noted in their
physique and quality. But. on the
whole, 1t may b. fairly said thaS- they
promised to furnish most valuable re-
Inducements TO our severely tried army.
The energy they displayed and the pro-
gross they made were really wonderful.
AS inspector general of the forces be-
tween 1908 and 1912 l had constant cp-
portunitics Of watching the training ~
| the territorial army in the first years
| Of it's existence as such. was familiar
| with the earnest and successful en-
| deavors they had made to profit by the
vastly improved conditions and status
secured TO them BY Lord Haldanc's wise
! and skillful administration. The same
| zeal which characterized them so re-
! markedly as volunteers was applied in
! greater force and with intensified conf
! dence when as territorals they were or
| ganized. commanded. stated. equipped
and trained on sound methods and up
! TO date lines.
! All this seven or eight years eNpe-
ricncc operated TO the greatest advan-
laRc Wntn lUpSt l'ETIlOEl'tI
! arrived in the theatre Of war and COM
! mcnccd their final preparation 10 MI the
! gaps in our line through which. as l
| have shown. the Germans must have
! penetrated had the territorial army not
! existed 10 step into the breach.
/ The #. A. {. was the first unit to
! follow the London Scottish. / inspected
them ut tn" front on November 9-the
! day upon which they Joined the Indian
corps-and they presented splendid
| appearance. l never saw n hner lot Of
| men. They afterward established rec
ord in the war which is we'll worthy OF
the fine old corps from which they
| spring.
| The Queens WCStminsters and the
! Eighth Royal Scots only embarked on
! the first and fourth Of November re-
! spectiyely. Yet their condition was so
| good that they were able TO be sent
| 10 the front Immediately after the II.
! 4. &.
The Queens WcStminsters were sent
: TO tn" seventh Division TO relieve IN
Artists Corps. which then became an
! officers training corps.
, | saw great deal Of the HEREFORD
; shir"s during the very few days they
] were training at headquarters. and found
! ahcm particularly fine regiment AL
O. Enough they only embarked on November
! 5. they were at Tpr"s in the First corps
! roScrv" ten or eleven days later and be-
: fore the end OF thu battle The Tenth
| Liv"rpools have Tin" record. They en-
barked on November | and joined the
| Ninth brigade on tho 18th OF the month
south OF WystchaetC. where they were in
the first line trenches on the 27th- be-
! tween tho Royal Fusiliers on the left
and the First Northumberland Fusiliers
on the right.
The Ninth Highland light infantry
were incorporated in the Fifth brigade
(Sccond division) on November "a. about
ton days after their arrival in the coun'
try. The Second Monmouths. the London
| Rifle brigade and tho Fits Scottish
! Rifles were Incorporated in the ThirC
corps on Nocembcr .. after some clever
or twelve days in the country.
Many other examples can be quoted tc
show how quickly these territorial
troops following the lead given them By
tho Oxfordshirc HuSsars and the Londor
Scottish. acCust stoned themselves to thu
severe and trying conditions OF war, anC
Of what real value they were at THU
critical time.
The incxpcriCnco of rrgimental officer:
= was Of course the greatest difficulty w
had to contend with when these troops
first took the field. This was most sc
rious drawback in view Of the vastly in
creased reSpons! bility which falls upor
leaders Of all ranks in war as it is con
Quoted today. but they improved beyond
all expectation. and every week fopnC
them moro efficient.
have so far spoken OF the Territorial
army in regard 10 it's employment II
units OF regiments and battalions at {
most critical time in the war. when &c
infrocements were badly needed. l CONF
now 10 the time when. few month:
later. they entered into the campaign q,
complete divisions.
The great mass OF military opinion
held that the highest practical unit II
which territorial soldiers could be or
ganized was the brigade OF four batta
lions. The regular gunner had no use
for territorial horse and field artillery
Engineer volunteers had for some time
existed. but only in small numbers anc
in particular localities. Although tn
army service corps and the army mcdica
corps had for years been represented IL
the volunteer forces by small units AND
detachments. it was never considered
that those services could be efficiently
and practically performed by any bu
whole timers"
Backed up by the opinion and advfc,
: Of O very few soldiers Of experience, tn,
, secretary Of state for war cast all thi:
prejudice 10 the winds and dcterninc<
! upon regular and complete divisiona
. organization for tho Tcrritorials. II wa!
! indeed Il great and COURAGEOUS decision
What" exclaimed the gold bediZcnet
: smart young Horse Artillery commander
do you mean to say you are going e
allot Territorial Horse Artillery bat
! Tori to fnI brio 10