CHAPTER X. 



FOX-HUNTING AND WARFARE 



WHEN the Volunteer force was disbanded after 

 peace was declared at the final conclusion 

 of our long war against the first Napoleon, in 1815, 

 the Yeomanry was the only branch of the Volunteer 

 service which was suffered to remain in existence. 

 This was owing to the influence, or perhaps I should 

 say the command, of the Duke of Wellington, who 

 stated that his best officers were hunting men. But 

 if this were the case at the beginning of the century, 

 when scouting, as defined by Major-General Baden- 

 Powell, was little understood and seldom practised, 

 how much stronger is the case at the present time ? 

 In modern warfare scouting is of equal, if not of 

 more importance that correct shooting, and where 

 can it be learnt better than in the hunting-field ? 

 I have been told, and General Baden -Powell has 

 told all of us, that Indian pig-sticking is the best 

 school in which to learn the science of scouting. 

 Judging from what I have read and heard of the 

 sport, I do not doubt that such is the case ; but only 

 a small percentage of our soldiers have had the good 



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