HC Deb 04 March 1902 vol 104 cc394-5

With regard to the Yeomanry, it must be obvious to everybody that modern war requires a much larger number of mounted troops than in former times. We found the use of mounted Regulars very great in the South African war. Men who can shoot and ride, who understand the elements of drill, and have had some experience in camp of tactical exercises, are, in the opinion of the Commander-in-Chief, a most valuable adjunct to any military force. We propose to utilise the Yeomanry to this extent. We propose to offer to men in the Yeomanry up to a certain number, 5,000 in all, £5 a year to place themselves on the list of the Yeomanry Reserve for the purpose of serving abroad in the case of mobilisation. It is an entirely voluntary undertaking. It will, of course, be confined to the existing Yeomanry regiments and to those who have served in South Africa; and we believe that' we shall obtain by that arrangement a very substantial addition to our mounted forces in the case of an emergency. They will, of course, only be available on the mobilisation of the whole Army Reserve. We propose to fill their places in the Yeomanry at home by the formation of a similar Yeomanry Reserve to the Volunteer Reserve which I have just described—men who are unable to come out to camp for a fortnight every year, but who, having served and having been efficient, under certain conditions, will be allowed to remain members of the regiment, and will, I am certain, undertake to serve in case of an emergency in this country.