NATIONAL DEFENCE.

I.

THE VOLUNTEERS IN TIME OF NEED.

(THE "NINETEENTH CENTURY," MARCH 1885.)

MORE than a quarter of a century has passed since the menace of some French colonels, expressive of their ardent loyalty for Louis Napoleon, called the Volunteers into existence. The proclaimed object of the new force was the defence of this country against invasion. In all the years since, there has never been so much reason to provide against that formidable contingency as at the present moment. The situation is far more menacing now than when the Volunteers first assembled in Hyde Park. It is impossible to deny that a combination of certain Great Powers, not ostentatiously friendly to us, would enable them to command our coast

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line and to land a great army on our shores. An especial interest, therefore, attaches to an inquiry into the competence of the Volunteers to bear their part in a possible event, to form a security against which is the reason of their existence.

Since their first establishment the Volunteers have largely increased in numbers. There was a time, some fifteen years ago, when, for some years, the force kept diminishing. But since 1873, when the number enrolled stood at 172,000, of whom nearly 19,000 were nonefficient, it rose steadily, till it stands now at 214,000 enrolled men, of whom less than 7000 are non-efficient. That so many men, of whose lives leisure forms but a small part, should give so much of it to this almost gratuitous service, proves that they have taken up the task in no holiday spirit, and is one of the hopeful signs of the times.

1

For some years the Volunteers were consti

1 It is difficult to say what other forces would be available for defence, because regular troops with their reserves, and in certain cases militia, would be required for foreign service, and to reinforce the garrison of Ireland. Taking the present establishment, and counting Army Reserve, Militia, Militia Reserve, and Yeomanry, the Volunteers would probably form two-thirds of our defensive army in Great Britain.

In November 1888 these numbers had risen to 226,000 enrolled men, of which 220,000 were effective.