Transport from the Home Guard Angle
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ALTHOUGH the official " truck " of the Unit (if it possesses one) is commonly in big demand, transport is a subject that does not generally appear to be taken very seriously in
the Home Guard. Occasionally one hears of a lecture and demonstration on " embussing and debussing." Cyclists and motorcyclists, who have volunteered to act as " runners " or despatch riders, find their services much sought after, but their task rather thankless. That the word " runner " is still widely and freely psed is itself significant of the outlook that regrettably obtains still in so many Home Guard circles., An admirable effort to remedy this state of affairs is represented by a small book that has just been published. It is named " Mobility for the Home Guard," and has been written by Francis Jones. The publisher is John Crowther, Ltd., 14, Henrietta Place, London, W.1, and the price Is. 3d. Here.is a passage that every Home Guard commander should inwardly digest. " This war happens (most unfortunately, perhaps) to be largely a war of mobility. Experience, so far, shows that the side that is quicker in getting about is apt to win; indeed, it is pretty certain to. And . . . it is the speed . . . that matters. That always
and that alone. Distance, comparatively speaking, does not count. The rule of rapidity holds, whether the move is over 500 miles or five—or only 500 yards."
Mr. Francis Jones continues to the effect that since our first round with the late Kaiser the speed of warfare has gone up ten times. In his time it was hardly above 3 m.p.h.; in the Fuhrer's it has risen to over 30 m.p.h. The new tempo may be inconvenient, • he says, but the Home Guard has to play to it in common with the rest of the Army. He more or less summarizes the matter of transport equipment by stating that the minimum requirement is that there should be a sufficiency of vehicles to move the entire unit, with of course, its ammunition and other supplies, at any moment.
Since its formation, he remarks, the klome Guard has had many things to do, but by this date these may be considered as having been effectively disposed of. The next major step in the Home Guard's development programme should be towards improving its mobility.
There must be a large number of readers of this journal who are in a position to lend a hand in accomplishing this object._ We commend to their attention this excellent little book, which has been prompted by a right motive, and has been written and produced in a manner well calculated to achieve its end.