COMPULSORY MILITARY TRAINING.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 526, 5 June 1909, Page 3

COMPULSORY MILITARY TRAINING.

.Sir,—A great number of our so-called business men are busying themselves in connection with compulsory military training for all. I quite agree that every malo of 16 years and upwards should be compelled to undergo a-severe (but short) courso of graining, and be thoroughly taught the use of firearms, but' how many of these professed enthusiasts who go about "mouthing" their belief in this system would be fighting in the field? Not many, I venture to say. More likely many of-them would be found'fighting their way down the wharf en route for the nearest foreign: country, leaving the patriotic hard-up worker to defend his (the fat man's) property. " ' t In advocating a compulsory military training,' the groundwork of which should be laid down at our public schools and colleges, I am of: the opinion that the militia system in voglie in the-Channel Islands since, say, the Battle of Jersey, 1781, would suit usJ'There men, women and children ably assisted Major Pearson' (who was mortally wounded in the Royal Square, St. Helier), who was in charge of a body of and successfully routed the French invaders, which proved the sterling worth of the militia in so ably assisting the regulars/ The , system'in vogue in the Channel Islands is aa follows:-—Every male of the age of 16 years and upwards is summoned to attend at the arsenal in his parish at a given time. "Those who are medically fit are notified as to when they must attend for their first" parade, when they are served out. with side-arms, carbine (or rifle), , etc., and are put through a drill lasting two hours, or thereabouts.. A recruit is expected to "put in" something like 36 drills each season (two drills a' week), whenj if he passes through his manual and firing exercises, he is passed out into the militia pro-" per, and is° served out with his uniform, etc., and alhhe receives by way of compensation is a pair of military brown-boots." "»k'.-' ,;",. It,is possible to "pass out" ffoin" the recruit ~ squad in, perhaps, twelve, drills or so, as a number of recruits in that squad had as a rule undergone a fair training at «ohool or college. As far as I was concerned, such was the case, and I was glad to be a bio to join the E Battery of the Royal Jersey Artillery, in preference to : undergoing 36 drills ■each season, whereas by passing the test, 1 received my uniform, and was called upon to ; put in'but' twelve or fourteen drills, most, of which were performed in the summer evenings ; 'two or three daylight parades .were all wewere called upon to perform, and the ma ; jority took it-kindly. .. . .' It would bo a matter of impossibility hero for all to undergo a military training at tho one time, seeing- that tbo Government cannot see its way to arming and equipping all those who volunteer. , How is it then going to find the money for a' conscript army of the whole : male population.as proposed?-, -Then, again) in the Channel Islands employer and employee, wero often to be found shoulder to shoulder, in the ranks. Could the same be said of the system in vogue here; were we to form a conscript army? I say no I.as politics and crawling' incompetence have, been the means of lowering the standard of our public and private lifo. It will bo a very;sorry day for- this Dominion in particular if tho Mother Country ever becomes ■ involved in war.: Let us then show- our sense by strengthening, ourselves, and not falling back on our Mother Country.. :, '-.-.-■■ A man* in the Channel Islands Militia served ten years on tho active list, counting from the time ho passed out of the awkward .squad. Ho was then put/on the firstrdasu, reserve for another ten years (I' bdlicvo), when: ho paraded about twice in the. year, so.that the* whole system obtaining there did not inflict any hardship, upon those who wero compolledto server . ' . / ','■".■'■■'. Most of,us out here know.the really hot teams-jof ' marksmen that both , Jersey and "Guernsey~have sent to Wimbledon- and Bisley, and.wo also .know that.their shooting , was of a.very high order.; in, fact, the Queen's Prize was once won by/ a ...Guernscyman.. What mrfkes the .Channel Islander's' shooting all the more , meritorious , is .the fact of their small-populations, Jersoy's approximately 60,000 and' Guernsey's 40,000. I must now" conclude, and ask your forgiveness in writing so lengthy a. letter on.this.'matter' of. vital importance—the defence of the British Empire,-' , ' ;".-. Trusting 'you will insert this letter, and thanking you in anticipation therefor.—l am, etc.,: ,- ■■■■■■<■':>■> .-.' • '■: .■-,-.. -.: -.- ' ■ ■'■ ■-' A TRUE-BRITISHER. Wellington May 31, 1909. .