keep at the territorial depot of each regiment the whole of the clothing and equipment of its reserve men, and the regimental transport allowed on a war footing.
Proper store buildings and sheds would have to be constructed, but the cost of these need not be very great. For these, and for the clothing, equipment, waggons, harness, &c., to be placed in them, from 1½ to 2 million pounds would probably be ample.
It is a curious thing that the country should go to the expense of training and maintaining a large reserve, but should not provide the means necessary to make it of use. The fact of the matter is, that the necessity for doing so is only becoming apparent as the reserve is gradually growing in strength. But if this necessity is recognised and accepted, we shall then be in a more efficient military position than this country has ever been in, in recent times. We shall be able to put 70,000 men into the field at a few days' notice, so equipped as to be ready to undertake active operations at once. This force would be available for service abroad, or as a nucleus round which we could organise all our available forces in case of invasion.
VI. We now come to point VI. which has been noted for consideration, and which is the provision of such equipment and stores (including guns of position) as are necessary to enable the whole of the remaining troops, regular and auxiliary, which can be called out in the United Kingdom, to take the field or be employed in garrison duty. For the regular troops all necessary clothing and equipment should be available in the supply of these articles to be maintained for the special use of the reserve, and a reduced amount of transport for home service would have to be provided. Lord Wolseley is reported to have said of our auxiliary forces that "they are men with muskets; I will not call them soldiers." The question to be considered is, what is necessary to make them soldiers? Supposing England to be threatened with invasion, it is probable that we should have about six weeks' time in which to make our preparations. With hard work in that period, a great deal might be done towards fitting our militia and volunteers for the duties of active service; but their field equipment and transport could not be supplied to them in six months, and probably not in a year; and without these, they would not be in a condition to take the field. What is required as regards the men of the auxiliary forces is, that they should have greatcoats, the valise equipment, including of course pouch, boxes for ammunition, water-bottles, and canteens. To equip all our troops properly with these articles, both time and money will be necessary. It may also be added that the sooner the whole of our infantry are armed with the same and the best pattern rifle available, the better it will be for their efficiency in the field. The amount of transport that would be necessary to enable our troops to undertake active operations in England need not be large. All corps would require waggons to carry one day's rations (in addition to what the men carried on the person), and these waggons would be used to fetch provisions from the nearest depot, which probably would be at a railway station at an average of ten miles' distance from the corps. Carts would be required for ammunition, and a small proportion of tools should also be carried. The
