The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-05-18 00:00:00

THE QUEEN AT ALDERSHOT.

The Queen, accompanied by her eldest and her
youngest daughters (the Crown Princess of Germany
and the Princess Beatrice), paid a visit to Aldershot
on Monday, and reviewed the division there stationed.
Since what may be termed the military revival
following the Franco-German campaign there have
been no lack of military spectacles far more im-
posing, some of them, in point of numbers than that of
Monday; but they have lacked the interest which
every one must have felt who witnessed Monday's
parade (observes the Standard). The display was of
less interest than it would have been if her Majesty had
inspected a complete corps d'armee—the real fighting
unit of modern warfare; but it was nevertheless, in its
way, pregnant with meaning, for Englishmen saw an
excellent but only fair sample of an army better pre-
pared in every way for the stern business of war than
any force which has ever left these shores.

The regiments under arms numbered over fourteen
thousand men, and the review passed off with every
success, though its effect as a spectacle was marred
by heavy rain during much of the time. The Queen
and the Princesses had to make use of waterproofs and
umbrellas, but their carriage remained open, and they
continued to watch the movements with marked
attention. The appearance of the men especially those
belonging, to reciments of the first Army Corps, is
described as in every way satisfactory.

it was just ten minutes to four o'clock when Her
Majesty commenced to drive slowly along the line of
troops. The first line was made up of the Royal Horse
Artillery at close intervals ; the Cavalry in columns of
squadrons ; the Infantry in line of battalions in quarter
columns, 20 paces interval between brigades, and six
paces interval between regiments. The intervals be.
twecia different arms were 21 yards. So formed, the whole
line advanced in review order till it was within a few
paces of the niE,'P,in indicated by the flagstaff. At
' the sound of the bugles Artillery, Cavalry, and In-
fantry then came to a halt, and, amid the music of
many bands playing the National Anthem and the
cheering of the spectators, the Queen left the ground
and proceeded to Farnborough station on her return
to Windsor.

The Times, at the conclusron of its notice of the re-
view, says :—" The opinion generally expressed among
the military men who witnessed the review from the
enclosures was that a finer set of men than those who were
then inspected by the Queen have rarely, if ever, been seen
at Aldershott, and that the marching was excellent. Lord
Napier of Magdala, accompanied by Colonel Dillon, his mili-
tary secrotary, was among the distingt;ished officers who
attended as spectators."

A Military Correspondent of The Times says :—" Taking
the review as a whole, her Majesty has good reason to be
proud of the handful of men she saw at Aldershott on Mon,
day. They are fair representative types of the troops we
could send abroad. In physique, drill, equipment, and dis-
cipline they cannot be curpassed by any army in Europe.
England need have no fear of intrusting her honour in the
hands of the Army now ready for active service, for no army
has yet left our shores which could in any way compare with
the men whom Sir Thomas Steele led past her Majesty on
Monday."