create entirely new formations. The objections to the first course were that it would disorganize the maintenance organiza- tion (the special reserve) of the regular forces already engaged in the campaign, that the number of special reserve units was too small and that they consisted of practically nothing but infantry. The main objection to the second was the inadequacy of the framework upon which to construct the necessary 100 infantry divisions; duplication and reduplication of these small nuclei would eventually entail practically new formations; their duplication and reduplication for dilution by the inclusion of the untrained manhood of the country would render them immobile and temporarily disorganize them for any purpose whatsoever. Home Defence would thereby be paralyzed and the possibility of using any units already existing and organized for reenforce- ments would be neutralized. Lord Kitchener therefore decided to create new divisions forthwith, retaining the special reserve for its maintenance functions and simultaneously fostering the training and recruiting (and eventual duplication) of the Terri- torial Force in order to relieve regular army units in garrisons overseas and to supply immediate unit reinforcements to the field army; and further, as soon as the territorial divisions, not broken up for the above two purposes, were sufficiently trained, to put them into the field as complete divisions. The new divisions were to be created as armies (popularly termed Kitchener armies), each of 100,000 men; and the nucleus of the I. New Army was at once commenced by forming the unit organization of 6 divisions (numbered 9 to 14) and drafting into them the necessary personnel. The II. and III. Armies began to form in Sept. 1914 and comprised the divisions numbered 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21-26 and 37. The IV. Army (soth to 35th Divs.) began to form in Oct. and Nov. but never took the field in divi- sions, being converted in April 1915 to draft-finding duties. The V. Army (Divs. 16, 36, 38, 39, 40 and 41), begun in Dec., even- tually took the divisional numbers of the IV. Army. The Terri- torial Force divisions used to relieve regular troops overseas were the ist Wessex, ist Home Counties and 2nd Wessex. These were never re-formed as divisions. Units of the W. Lanes, and ist London Divs. used as unit reinforcements to the Expedi- tionary Force in France, were eventually reassembled in their divisions there. Those who took the field later as complete formations did so at first under their territorial designations but were eventually numbered so that the final divisional enumera- tion of the Field Army Divisions included all regular, territorial, New Army, Indian (embracing British and Indian native units) and Dominion contingents.
Recruiting During the War. With the exception of a certain number of officers (who had had experience in the army and in many cases experience of minor campaigns) and of a certain number of older men whose period of army and reserve service had expired, there existed no reservoir of men who had under- gone regular military training to arms, owing to the fact that the army had always been maintained by voluntary enlistment. This was a considerable handicap; but, on the other hand, the fact that a number of ex-officers and older men had had previous campaigning experience was an advantage, though, of course, they were insufficient in numbers to deal with the man-power of the nation as a whole.
Directly mobilization was ordered voluntary recruits offered themselves in such numbers that the recruiting machine was for a time paralyzed and unable to deal with the applicants. The intake, which, prior to the outbreak of war, was from 70 to 80 per day, rose immediately to 6,000 per day from Aug. 5 to 22; to 9,000 per day from Aug. 22 to 30; and by Sept. 3 it had reached 33,000 per day. On Sept. 10, owing to lack of accommo- dation in barracks and deficiencies in stores and equipment, the standards had to be raised considerably. This was correctly interpreted as meaning that the urgent need for men was over; and the numbers fell to 2,500 per day. On Nov. 6 the standard was again lowered, and recruiting rose to 3,000 a day.
Towards the end of the year when it became evident that more men would be required a parliamentary recruiting com- mittee was formed, and a recruiting campaign was undertaken
throughout the country, resulting in an intake of some 60,000 men. In July 1915, a National Registration Act was passed, and the Local Government Board were allotted the task of supplying the particulars of all males between the ages of 18 and 41. From these, registers were compiled in various recruit- , ing areas; and in Oct. 1915, the " Derby Scheme " or " Group System " was initiated by Lord Derby on his appointment as Director-General of Recruiting. Under this system men were to be enlisted for one day and immediately passed into the reserve with liability to be called to the Colours when required. Between Oct. 25 and the middle of Dec. 2,000,000 men were attested under this system, of whom 50% were married men; but as the Government had given a pledge that single men would be called up before married men, and it became clear that the single men of the nation had not responded, it was decided to introduce compulsory service.
The first Military Service Act received the royal assent at the end of Jan. 1916, rendering liable for military service all single men between the ages of 18 and 41; and calling to the Colours under this Act commenced on March 3. The Act was later extended to include married men, who began to be called up on June 24. Complaints were rife against the decisions of the examining medical officers; and medical boards were substituted in May 1917. This was followed by the transfer of recruiting from the military to the civil authorities and the creation of the Ministry of National Service as a civil authority for recruiting. This new ministry took over all recruiting duties for the navy, army and air force on Nov. i 1917. A further Military Service Act was introduced in April 1918, rendering liable for military service all men between the ages of 18 and 51; but in actual practice the calling-up of the older men produced small results.
Under the authority of the War Office 2,631,313 men volun- tarily enlisted between Aug. 4 1914 and the end of Feb. 1916; and from March i 1914 to end of Oct. 1917, 1,790,381 men were called to the Colours; this gives a total of 4,421,694. Subse- quently, under the authority of the Ministry of National Service, from Nov. i 1917 to the Armistice (Nov. n 1918) 549,208 men were called to the Colours. After the Armistice enlistment again became voluntary, and the ministry enlisted 1,138 men into the regular army up to Jan. 15 1919, when recruiting was retransferred to the War Office.
Higher Formations by Theatres of War. The gradual expan- sion of the British armies in the various theatres, and variations in the strategical situation, led to changes in the organization of higher commands and to movements of the minor formations from one theatre to another. It is only necessary here to deal with the changes in organization of the higher commands, theatre by theatre.
France (and United Kingdom). The first Expeditionary Force was organized as one army, sub-divided into 3 army corps. The I. and II. Army Corps and cavalry division took their place on the left of the French army in Aug. 1914, and fighting had commenced before the arrival of the 4th Div. and the III. Army Corps head- quarters to which this division was allotted. These, however, took part in the operations from Le Cateau onwards, the igth Inf. Bde. (composed of battalions originally allotted to the lines of communication) for the time being taking the place in the III. Army Corps of the 6th Div., which did not join the army in the field until the middle of September. The army was commanded by Field-Marshal Sir J. D. P. French, with Lt.-Gen. Sir A. J. Murray as chief of the general staff, Lt.-Gen. Sir C. F. N. Macready as adjutant-general, Lt.-Gen. Sir W. R. Robertson as quartermaster- general, and Maj.-Gen. Sir F. S. Robb as inspector-general of the lines of communication. The I. Army Corps was commanded by Lt.-Gen. Sir D. Haig, and was composed of the ist and 2nd Divisions. The II. Army Corps originally commanded by Lt.-Gen. Sir J. M. Grierson, who died in France en route to the position of assembly was commanded by Gen. Sir H. L. Smith- Dorrien, and was com- posed of the 3rd and 5th Divisions. The III. Army Corps was commanded by Lt.-Gen. W. P. Pulteney, and was composed of the 4th and 6th Divisions. The cavalry division was commanded by Maj.-Gen. E. H. H. Allenby.
In Oct. 1914 the 7th Div. and the 3rd Cav. Div. landed at Ostend under the command of Maj.-Gen. Sir H. S. Rawlinson.
By Nov. 1914 the cavalry had been expanded to a corps of three divisions under Lt.-Gen. Allenby. Two Indian cavalry divisions composed of British and Indian units arrived shortly afterwards.
