Adequate for Defence. 213 streak," that he who should attempt an invasion of Britain's soil must reckon on strong and fierce resistance. Not in arms for any purpose of aggression, they were there as men to whom the defence of their hearths and homes is a sacred duty. They have no intestine quarrel to settle, no passing whim to gratify. All mustered of their own accord to show their Queen that she has better than walls of brass or iron-the unbought loyalty and devotion of men determined to preserve the rights and liberties and freedom of their country. No sovereign in the world save Queen Victoria could look on such a sight of unpaid legions-a great army, the product of no conscription, of no system of forced military service. It is the upgrowth of real patriotism, acting by itself for great and worthy ends. The military spectacles taught a grand moral and national lesson, demonstrating that the third line of the national defence is a substantial reality, in which the people may repose a just confidence— an element of British strength and security which no outside enemy could afford to disregard. It was a proof that the labour that for twenty-two years has been expended on the development and organization of a voluntary military force for home defence has not been given in vain, and justifies the belief that the Volunteer force supplies the solution of the problem which has of late years engaged the attention of our military organizers-that of creating an armed force adequate for the defence of all the vast interests of the empire, without having recourse to the expedient, so alien to the national sympathies and conditions, of compulsory military service. As the natural outcome of existing improved efficiency, is the demand for the conversion of what is now only a single element of an army into a complete army. The Volunteers having proved themselves better soldiers than was believed, so much the more important is it they should by degrees be developed into a really defensive force. As yet they furnish only one arm of a defensive force. They are becoming excellent infantry, and the artillery new arm is grandly fitted for garrison work. But something more than infantry is needed to the making up of a good army. If they were called upon to resist invasion, they would as at present constituted have to depend on the regular army for cavalry and field artillery, and it is very doubtful whether the regular army would have as much of either as it would need for its own use. The ideal Volunteer force must be made selfcontained in all respects. The infantry effectives must be supported by the proper proportion of other arms, raised and organized on the same voluntary basis. The pro vision of the calvalry and artillery would be a more costly business than the provision of a corresponding number of infantry. Horseflesh is more of a luxury; but when we bear in mind how characteristically English a luxury it is, the objection should be surmounted. So far no real effort has been made to raise Cavalry Volunteers. The existence of the Yeomanry seems to have stood in the way. This venerable but unimposing force has forestalled the idea of a Volunteer Cavalry without filling the place of one. The time, however, has arrived for its conversion into a reality, and there should be no difficulty in doing so. The matter of horses for field artillery can readily be managed by the making proper arrangements with companies, private firms, and individuals who own or control large numbers of horses to an extent far beyond anything ever known in past Efficiency of the Volunteer Artillery. 215 days. The Volunteer Artillery force is far ahead of the nation's knowledge. The coasts of Scotland, Liverpool, Devon, Cornwall, Yorkshire, Sussex, Kent, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, one and all vie with each other in furnishing men equal to any and every requirement of the service. All are well up in garrison drill; and as marksmen the records of the annual doings at the Shoeburyness meetings speak for themselves. The practice of the 2nd Durham under the special training of its indefatigable colonel the Marquis of Londonderry, the 15th Lancashire, the 1st Sussex, the 1st Cinque Ports, the 4th, 5th and 7th West York, the 3rd Middlesex, the Midlothian Coast, the 1st North York, the 10th Kent, the 1st Lanark, the 1st Hants, the 2nd Durham, the 4th East York, all winners of the Queen's prize, tells its own tale. No artillery practice is more excellent. The 4th West York, the 3rd Middlesex, and the 2nd Durham have each twice been winners of the much coveted prize presented by their Sovereign. Well may the Duke of Norfolk, the noble Marquis of Londonderry, Colonel Creswick, and Lord Truro, and the officers of these grand brigades, be proud of their prowess. Seeing how immeasurably the value of the Volunteers as a defensive instrument would be increased if able to take the field as a completely constituted army, no government can propose to itself a more worthy task than the making them fit to do so. CHAPTER VII. Overthrow of French army by the Germans-The Crimean War a great lesson--War prosecuted in all ages of the world-Patriotism a Christian duty-England's Constitutional Force in past ages -Scriptural authority and precedents for war-Pomp of war seductive-War a terrible alternative-Desolation and destruction of the world's armies-Self-preservation and defence just laws of nature and the guide of British Volunteers -The British Volunteer a peace-preserver-Commerce and locomotion have taken up war's business-Neglect of physical exercises a cause of degeneracy-The Greeks and Spartans cultivators of physical exercise-Lessons derivable from study of Athenian history--Socrates and Plato's lessons commended-Young men of present day given to desultoriness-Military exercise a cure-Its necessity enforced-Reform in the lives and habits of young men urged-True men not ashamed of their calling-All men are diggers-Gymnastic and military exercises the cure for existing evils-Our young men's waste of time-Extravagance and luxury the bane of our time-The Volunteer movement properly controlled a new life to the youth of the country-Washington a great example-Ruskin's address to the students at Woolwich -Historic lessons derivable from Persian, Greek, and Roman teachings. NOTWITHSTANDING the crushing defeats sustained by the French armies at German hands, its recuperation has been more than marvellous. The people of France rightly debited their misfortunes to the Napoleonic system, and the incompetence of the higher commands. Instead, however, of groaning over an overturned Empire, and misfortunes such as would have rendered almost any Ludicrous features in the German Expedition. 217 other nation hopeless and helpless, like a nest of ants they set to work shoulder to shoulder at the work of reconstruction, which is well and efficiently done. The democratic spirit of equality, so paramount in the people, has penetrated the army, and has contributed to destroy by degrees the old system by which the soldier was considered as a machine. It is evidenced in the free, elastic step of the French soldier. He is taught to think and to rely on himself, and it is this acquisition which gives him such superiority in campaigning. It engenders selfconsciousness and emulation, which receive an additional spur by the system of promotions and rewards. The utter discomfiture of the French army under the late Napoleon, and the overrun of the country by the Germans, was the natural result of incompetent generalship, peculation, and wrong-doing of the worst order by men in power. Utter demoralization among the officers, confusion with the staff, bewilderment and lack of organization in the commissariat, and a condition of Sybaritish luxury approaching to debauchery amongst the great body ruling and wielding power in Paris, produced their inevitable consequences. What could be hoped for or expected of an army the chief general of which set forth to the fray accompanied by a kind of Astley's gilded van, equipped regardless of cost, and charged with a female favourite desirous of sharing her lord's glories in the field? Destruction of the fellest character came on the whole host: one portion was knocked over, another was shut up in a beleaguered city, whilst a third kept marching in the opposite direction to the pursuer. Trusting to the lucky star under which the vagaries of earlier years had been undertaken, the Emperor, surrounded by sycophant generals, mounted his war-horse |