As this account of the raising of a battalion of infantry in the now well-known and fairly efficient body of men termed the Volunteer Force of Great Britain is sent to the printers, so once again comes the rumour of war and the possibility of our being invaded. We are stronger, better armed, and as a nation generally far better acquainted with the needs of warfare and how to meet them; but so are those who not improbably will be opposed to us. The past thirty years have been thirty wondrous years of increased knowledge in all that concerns war. Steam has in reality bridged the Channel, when vessels of ten thousand tons can steam more than twenty miles an hour; and these are both numerous and well adapted for troopers. Guns have been made far more destructive, and are effective at immense distances; and armies, which then were considered terrible in their numbers and might, are now increased fourfold; and no single thing left untried or unconsidered which might tend to their capabilities of offence or defence. We may be better prepared to resist invasion than we were in 1859, but are we so fully prepared, and are our forces so numerous, so armed, so fully equipped and so fully provided with guns, hospital comforts, carriage and commissariat, as would allow of our auxiliary forces being called upon suddenly to serve and, so serving, to hold their own and keep the field for a prolonged period? It is no time to be careful as to what foreigners may impute, or to defer preparations in deference to their feelings. War in Europe is imminent, at the door, and war in Europe not improbably means some nation or nations at war with us. If this be so, we may rest assured that nothing less than our ruin as a naval and military power would be attempted.--R.D.G. 1888. 1ST CORPS (SALISBURY) WILTS RIFLE VOLUNTEERS.