CHAPTER II

THE COMPOSITION OF THE BRITISH ARMY

The _Regular Army_ 317 Three classes of reserves 318 The _Army Reserve_ 318 The _Special Reserve_ 319 The _Territorial Army_ 320 The numbers of trained soldiers immediately available for war 321 These were inadequate to redress the balance against the Triple Entente 322 In the _onset_ period untrained and half-trained troops were of no use 322 Shortage of officers capable of training raw troops 323 Lord Haldane's failure to carry out his own principles 324 Moral effect of our support of France at Agadir crisis 326 Adverse changes between 1911 and 1914 326 Size of British striking force necessary as complete were of against a coolly calculated war 327 Reserves required behind this striking force 328 South African War no precedent for a European war 330