The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-02-16 00:00:00

USES FOR THE SIX MILLIONS.

The Times of Tuesday has a lengthy article on the "Uses
for the Six Millions," from which we make the following ex-
tracts :

• . . . . Let us suppose that the necessity had arisen
for sending two Army Corps to Constantinople and
watch the process. In the first place no Army Corps
exists or has ever been shown at all in England in a
condition to take the field. Such organizations exist
on paper, but it should be understood that the only
pretence ever made to mobilize one did not con-
template foreign service at all. A large portion
of it was composed of Irish militia. By the
latest orders—December, 1877—the English Corps
consists of about 37,000 officers and men, of
whom the fighting troops number more than 32,000,
the rest being necessary non-combatants. There
should be 12,850 horses and 90 guns. Of carriages
there are no less than 1,573, of which 140 would be re-
quisitioned on arrival, the rest having to be transported
from England. Four such Army Corps might
constitute the movable fighting force of the country,
and form, with their 128,000 fighting men, a re-
spectable force—rather larger than that which -at
last surrounded Plevna. The one Corps which we
are now supposing to be ordered to be prepared
for embarkation would be much under its strength
in men, and have to be filled up from volunteers
out of other regiments or from the Reserve. To call
up the Reserves suddenly would, perhaps, be con-
sidered a strong measure, and volunteers would be
asked for. Suppose the regiments and batteries to
be completed in strength and concentrated at Alder-
shott. They represent the mere fighting flesh and
blood. Where are their transport officers and men,
no less than 2,294 of them with their 2,934 horses.
Where the 1,289 officers and men of the medical
branch? How have the Cavalry regiments been made
up to their war strength? Other nations do not dare
to keep their Cavalry at low strength in peace. Where
the 1,150 officers and men, with their 1,280 horses
and numerous carriages of the vitally necessary
ammunition columns? To supply them, batteries
of artillery, which are always counted as part
of the war strength of the country, would have
to be broken up; and, if there are gaps in the
Army List now where the. names of batteries
should be, We should like to know how many batteries
would be left at home after sending away four Army
Corps, for which there is Infantry enough? Not only
would no field Artillery be left, but the expeditionary
Corps themselves would be deficient in guns. This is
a very serious consideration. Almost all the car-
riages required for the Corps are at Woolwich,- and
the chances are that they would be bundled on board
ship there, so that they would never be seen by the
men who have to use them till they are unpacked on
the wharves at Constantinople. Where are the
horses, nearly 13,000 of them? Some people will an-
swer, Buy them at Constantinople. Now, an interesting
question presents itself here, Could we get a large
number of horses at once, and if we could, where is the
harness to fit them? A Turkish horse in English har-
ness would look like a boy of twelve years old in his
father's clothes. A portion of the transport horses
might be bought with their harness, but certainly
not those for Cavalry and Artillery, for telegraph
troops, or even for many of the ambulances; nor
must it be forgotten that English shafts are un-
suited to Turkish ponies. Then the troops must
be conveyed to their destination in ships,
and,t conceive the flutter of the [shipowners.
Pinched by the dullness of trade for many months
past, they could hardly be blamed for driving hard
bargains with the Government; as in the Crimean
War, the full value of a ship might be paid for one
trip. The only remedy for suzh an anticipated
difficulty is to be provided with a considerable
number of transports or troopships, by buying or
hiring them quietly before the need arises. All the
difficulties we have pointed out would arise in the
case of one Army Corps—a force which would dis-
appear from sight among the masses of troops now in
European Turkey. A second Corps would be ready
shortly afterwards, and then, though the fighting men
would not be exhausted, all else would fail. Doubt-
less the manufacturing energy of the country would
before long supply what is needful, but until it is sup-
plied there ought to be a steady progress in providing
this material and placing it where it ought to be—at
the point of concentration of each Corps.
But, though there are men enough, if properly
organized, to form four Army Co :ps, we shall see in
a moment that the proportions are wrong. Four
Corps would require about 92,000 Infantry, nearly
16,000 Cavalry, and 360 guns, with 16 ammunition
columns. The Infantry could be found, but nothing
else completely; and while there would remain, in-
cluding Volunteers, not far short of 300,000 Infantry
at home, there would be neither Cavalry nor field
guns for them to show head in case of threatened
invasion. Thus, the want of Cavalry and field
Artillery renders the exertion of the full force of the
country in case of war quite impossible, and we are
brought face to frce with the fact that an applica-
tion of money in the direction of forming new cadres
of Cavalry and Artillery is one of the first measures
which should be taken by the Government, not for
war, but in preparation to be ready for war. There
is another reason for this measure. Infantry be-
comes fit for service much sooner than either Cavalry
or Artillery.

We no v approach a subject of great delicacy, yet
one which must be lying secretly in the minds of
most men who think over anxiously all the means
which are available for strengthening the hands of
England if the calamity of a great war should befall
Europe. All the Great Powers, excapt England, lay
upon themselves willingly the burden of conscription.
England does not, and will not, except in case of
great danger. Yet there are nearly 400,000 men
bearing arms and more or less trained within the
seas which girdle these islands—a regular army ready
for service in any part of the world—say 100,000;
a Militia of about the same number, which (except
30,000 men who belong to the Militia Reserve, and
are bound to join the Army in case of war) is only
liable to serve at home both in peace and war ;
and about 200,000 Volunteers, who cannot be called
upon at all, except in case of special danger, and
then only at home. From the Militia come. al-
ways in war time volunteer battalions for garrison
service in the Mediterranean, and it is probable
that administrative battalions of Volunteers could
be formed, every man of which would readily
spend a few months at Malta or Gibraltar. The ques-
tion is, whether and on what terms each of
the two auxiliaries, Militia and Volunteers, could
be induced to place themselves one step higher Qn
the military ladder of fame. Could not the Militia
be a home force in peace, but engage to give their
services abroad in case of war; and could not the
Volunteers promise to turn out whenever the pres-
sure of circumstances obliges the Government to send
the Militia on foreign service? There might be
some reduction in the numbers of both at first, but
it is probable that new candidates would b*
attracted by the change, and even if not the step
would still be advantageous. At present the great
difficulty is to officer the two forces, and we read
very badly the nature of English gentlemen if such
a change would not be very attractive to them. The
Volunteers are now agitating for more Government
help, which might well be given under eertaj con-
ditions. The steady growth of the force in effdiency
has been most remarkable, and already there has
been a great change in the character of the men and
the military proficiency of the officers. We should be
glad to know what is their feeling on this subject.
With the Militia little difficulty is to be expected.
The question would probably be one of increased pay.
By the means we have suggested, and by definite
arrangements for the purchase of horses, England
could place four Army Corps in the field perfectly
equipped in every respect
.and keep them always up
to war strength, in addition to troops destined to
guard the communications. The corps in the field
should never be broken up for guarding the communi-
cations. . . . In short the use of the militia as we
have suggested would enable every man of the regular
Army to go to the front at first and would keep up the
supply of trained troops. Thus four Corps, for the
garrison of Gibraltar and Malta could be relieved by
Militia regiments, might be counted upon as the avail-
able force of England even at the commencement of a
war.. . .

The Times of Wednesday publishes the following
letter :

Sir,—ln the excellent article in The Ti7lloB of to-day on
"Uses for the Six Millions," you say you would be glad to
learn what is the feeling of the Volunteers on the sub-
ject of a possible requirement of their services at Malta or
Gibraltar.

Might I, as a N olunteer, say that I have long looked for-
ward eagerly to such a contingency, and would gladly sacri-
fice a great deal to take part in such an expedition.

I may add that I am not singular hi this. I know per-
sonally dozens of other Volunteers who also gladly would
offer their services for any active duty at home or abroad.—
I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
February 12. A VOLUNTEER SUBALTERN.