The local battalions were in many cases commanded by retired or half-pay officers of the regular army.

At all these inspections Carson addressed the men, many of whom were now seeing their Commander-in-Chief for the first time, and pointed out that the U.V.F., being now under a single command, was no longer a mere collection of unrelated units, but an army.

At an inspection at Antrim on the 21st of September, he made a disclosure which startled the country not a little next day when it appeared in the headlines of English newspapers.

"I tell the Government," he said, "that we have pledges and promises from some of the greatest generals in the army, who have given their word that, when the time comes, if it is necessary, they will come over and help us to keep the old flag flying." These promises were entirely spontaneous and unsolicited.

More than one of those who made them did fine service to the Empire in the impending time of trial which none of them foresaw in 1913.
Of the men inspected on that day, numbering about 5,000, it was said by the Special Correspondent of _The Yorkshire Post_, who was present-- "As far as I could detect in a very careful observation, there were not half a dozen of them unqualified by physique or age to play a manly part.