We believe that nowhere in the whole of Great Britain among the Volunteers has there been a greater willingness and a greater readiness to comply with all orders and instructions of the War Office, to adopt a correct attitude towards the regular army and to let the movement co-operate with the authorities, than in Lancashire and there, among other towns, in Manchester. When it was ordered to fit out the armouries, the command was carried out, although in a large town this inevitably involves considerable difficulties. Whatever orders were given, they were carried out immediately and without a murmur. When our Volunteers assembled in large masses, they anticipated the wish of the Duke of Cambridge and requested the military authorities of the district to assume command and to organise the brigades. The desire to achieve something made our Lancashire Volunteers judge every intervention of the Government favourably; they knew that above all uniformity and regularity are necessary, and they regarded every circular from the War Office as a step forward towards securing that necessity. From its very first number, the “Volunteer Journal” has not ceased to recommend willing and cheerful obedience to the instructions of the War Office, and to point out the great advantages of complete harmony between the Volunteers and the local as well as the central military authorities. While in other areas, particularly in London, mysterious rumours were circulating about the pernicious influence of the Horse Guards, about the attempts of the authorities to drive a wedge between them, etc., we have never for a single moment been influenced by such considerations. We have placed full confidence in the sincerity of the Commander-in-Chief, the Secretary of State for War, and all their subordinates, when they declared their readiness to support the movement in every possible manner.

We cannot, however, shut our eyes to the fact that of late one or two small things have occurred which create the impression that a change of opinion on the Volunteer movement has indeed taken place among influential men, especially since Lord de Grey and Ripon resigned as Under-Secretary of State for War. A few weeks ago – we believe it was on Whit Monday – Lord Ranelagh held a review in Regent’s Park of those London Volunteers who responded to his invitation. We have now more than once severely condemned Lord Ranelagh’s attempts to play the general. He could have applied to Colonel McMurdo, the Inspector-General of Volunteers, to hold the review of his men or to recommend some other qualified officer for that purpose. But, whether justified or not, he went with his soldiers to the park; the affair had been publicly announced and was so generally known that a great mass of spectators assembled. Among them were people who behaved shamefully; they crowded around the Volunteers, broke through their ranks, rendered evolutions impossible, threw stones, and some even tried, as has been established, to injure the officers’ horses with sharp instruments. When this began, the commanding officers naturally looked out for the police, but of the 6,000 men who form Sir Richard Mayne’s army, there was, as we are informed,
*not a single man present*!
The consequence was that Lord Ranelagh’s review became a complete failure owing to the disturbance. Had it been possible to continue the review, it might very well have turned out to be a failure of itself, just as Lord Ranelagh’s previous attempts have always done. Under these circumstances, however, Lord Ranelagh was made a martyr and highly recommended to the sympathy of all Volunteers.

There can be no doubt that the total absence of the police at this publicly announced review was not entirely accidental. It has been stated in the press that they must have had instructions to keep away, and we know that in London it is very generally assumed among the Volunteers that the Horse Guards had something to do with this affair, and that there is a wish on their part to undermine the Volunteer movement in every possible way. Feelings are much aroused in London about this matter, and we confess that the facts – which, as far as we know, never have even been attempted to be excused or explained – are very well calculated to give rise to such sentiments.

This week we have to record another matter which certainly does not look as if the authorities intended to fulfil their promise to do everything in their power to support the Volunteers. It was announced some time ago that one of our Manchester regiments intended to go into camp for a short time. We believe this announcement was only made when it was certain that the thing could be carried out. It is generally reported that an application for tents, etc., had been made verbally to the authorities, that this application was granted, and further, that the terms of the grant had been settled. We believe these arrangements were come to not more than two or three weeks ago. Thereupon all further arrangements were made: as to the site of the camp, the canteen, the officers’ mess, and other matters; and after everything is in order and the formal application for the tents is submitted, the Government suddenly draws back and declares that it cannot supply any tents at all!

Of course this upsets the whole plan, and the expenses and trouble incurred by the regiments are all in vain. We all know that the Volunteer regiments have every reason to be very careful with their small bank balances – if they have any at all. We are informed that so many Volunteer regiments had applied to the Government for tents that it was impossible to provide tents for all, and that therefore none could be supplied to any corps. Whether this is true or not, the Government ought to know that a contract is a contract, and that subsequent events could not release them from obligations already undertaken. But a rumour, which now seems to be current in Manchester just as in London, says that this is an idle pretext and that the Government does not wish the Volunteers to go into camp at all, and that even if the corps in question procured tents or huts at their own expense and from an independent source, the camp would not be looked upon favourably in high quarters.

Such occurrences are certainly not likely to promote that cordial relation between the authorities and the Volunteers which is so essential for the further success of the movement. The movement is too powerful for any Government to suppress it; but a lack of confidence in the authorities on the part of the Volunteers, and covert opposition on the part of the authorities, may very soon create considerable confusion and hamper the progress of the Volunteer movement for a time. This should not be tolerated. A large number of Volunteer officers are in Parliament. They should come forward as members and see to it that the Government makes declarations which will at once set the matter right and show the Volunteers that they have to expect friendly support instead of covert hostility.

F. E.