The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1871-11-04 00:00:00

MR. BOUVERIE ON PUBLIC TOPICS.

Mr. E. P. Bouverie, M.P., addressed a crowded
meeting of his constitutents at Kihnanunik on Saturday.
Ile characterised the present outcry in Ireland for
home rule as little more than 'fudge.' and looped
that another year would not lASS without their getting
a Scotch Education lull; trusting, however, at the
same time, that the board which had the management
oof education throughout the country would be a Scotch
one. Ile then drew attention to the saving Which the
Government had effected in the national expenditure
during the first years of its existeme, but expressed his
approval of the increase afterwards authorised on ac-
count of the war which was raging in Europe. lie
pointed out the need of this country being ready
to repel an attack or to assert our rights. Speak-
ing of the changes effected in the management of the
Admiralty, and referring specially in connection with
this to the boss of the Caphent and Monica, he con-
tended that those at the heads of departments should
hoe responsible for the disasters, and not their subordi-
oat es. Glancing at the boss of time consumed by
let g,thened debates in Parliament, he thought that the
progress and success of business there depended much
upon the skill and tact of those who had the manage-
ment of affairs, and afterwards adverting to the abo-
lition of purchase, disapproved of the way it was
' effected by the exertion of the power of the Crown. A
vote of thanks and confidence was unanimously
awardedtheright hon. gentleman.

THE FIRST OF NOVEMBER AND THE
BRITISH ARMY.
Consmenrl.ng on the great eharare that will result
from the Alto:Rhin II the Purchase System in the
ihitich Army, The Times of Wednesday has the fol-
lowing leader --
The great change an long demapiled, and so stubbornly
opposed, passes over the British Army to-day. The Royal
Warrant to execute the provisions of the Warrant of July
amt of the " Regulamon 44 the Forces Act" of last Session
with regard to Purchase bears date the :kith of October.
Though declared to be provisional on certain points, it
deals decisively, no far as principle is concerned, with the
whole system of first appointments, regimental promotion and
exchange. From this present day the Army is under the com-
plete control if the Crown and its Ministers ; it belongs to the
nation as fully as any other branch of the public service, and,
mulcts negligence and apathy supervene in the Administra-
tion, the interest of no man or class of men will be allowed to
Interfere with its efficiency. The purport of the Warrant is
to define the methods by which the difficult task of selecting
officers for the Army shall be accomplished now that Pur-
chase stands abolished. The subject divides itself into two
heads— First Appointments and Promotion. It Is not easy
to say which of these requires the et titer care. Under the
old'syston, as it prevailed down to the time of the Crimean
War, there was li Ale or no inquiry into the fitness of Satan who
entered the Army, or who having once entered rose step by step
li, its highest ranks. No vise lit authority gave himself, the
trouble to prevent the Queen from nmktint bad bargains, and
when they were ('flee made they were on her hands for ever.
In a haphazard way the service seemed to get on fairly
enough. The very fact that a young man took a COMlllitillioll
in a regiment which might be ordered at any moment to the
other side of the globe, to do hard work under a blazing sun or
in an unhealthy atmosphere, showed that he must have some-
thing in him, and it is only the truth to say that our officers
have alwcys been hardy and energetic, and have never shruik
from their duty. If the saint' system had prevailed in a
country without foreign itossessions, and where the life of
the officer is passed in greater ease at home, its evil effect
would have been far more conspicuous. The service abroad,
which kept out the very lazy slot frivdons, weeded the
also of the less desirable officers, mid gave some
practical inatruction in military science. The British Army
thus did iwtter work than might have been expected.
The officers took a pride in their regiments which
incited them to exertion, a high tone was universal
among them, and a healthy professional ambition
generally prevailed. But it wan intposaible not to per-
ceive that a sound basis of military education was want-
ing that, though there were many intelligent and
acoomplished officers, there was nothing to insure the pre-
valence of such a class and that, as a fact, many officers
wets neither intelligent nor accomplished. Long slum it
had been seen and urged that Purchase was chiefly respon-
sible for the peculiar defects of the Pritish Army. Yet the
system might have survived our time had it not been
for . ovietien which the nation has received front
ret,.nt war, met particularly from the war just ended,
that All Army to take the field against the heats
of the Continent must be a machine more scientifi-
cally constructed and better handled than the force which
we possess. Purchase, indeed, bad its supporters even
among Liberals. who thought that it was a security against
favouritism and aristocratic exclusivenesa, and gave the
middle-class man his chance. But all such considerations
passed away before the necessities of the time. The country
has been convinced that, whatever collatertd advantages may
belong to Purchase, it is incompatible with the organization
now rendered necessary for national defence.
The Government, having now- obtained control over its
military servants by satisfying their vested rights and for-
bidding the creation of any such rights in future, proceeds
to lay down rules for entrance into the Al my. It would be of
little use to abolish Purchase if rare were not taken to guard
the service from the less capable class of men whom
Purchase introduced. To effect this, it has been de-
cidml that First Appointments shall be gin en as a
general rile after competitive examination, and that
they shall be probationary, and revocable in case the Un-
fitness of the successful candidate shall lie di me strated by a
practical trial in his work. There will be plenty of time to
mature the seheme, for we are tolol in the explanatory Memo-
randum which accompanies the Wartunt that the number of
supernumerary officers and of candidates who have already
passed for COnIIIIISSiOnS will not be absorbed for two years.
When this MOM is exhausted, the First Appointments in
the Army will be given only to successful candidates at amen-
petitive examination or to noiremmuissioned officers recom-
mended by the Commanderitt-Chief, or to candidates from
the Universities, or to Queen's Cadets, Indian Cadets, Pages
of Honour, or to Lieutenants of Militia. Of these new
officers the greatest number will gain their places by com-
petition. The Memorandum informs the public that,
so for as it is possible to calculate beforehand, the vacancies
on the present establishment of officers in the army will
provide for about 200 admissions a year by competition, and
for one commission a year for each Militia Regiment of
tin comp:lmes, and for the mailer regiments ill propor-
tion, 1144sidOS the number allowed for candidates from the
Univt rsdies, non-commissioned officers, ,te. Now, there are
a good many porn us, with no lack either of good sense
or liberality, who will be rather frightened by this word
•' competition." They will think very rightly that some-
thing more is required in an officer than brains and appli-
Catioll, awl that the methods of selection which are suited
loan office its the Civil service hardly apply to Illen nhithave
to march and tight, to near cold and hunger. But care, we
believe, will be taken that no man not physically qualified
shalbreceivean Appointment. In fact, the physical will accom-
aviltelotelleetnal examination. 'I he next point is to sneer-
taut whether the young man who has snceeet(ecare garner%
his First Appointment is fit to rise higher. Here we begin to
sec the advantagea of the abolition of purchase. The Govern-
ment is master. and being free to make and cancel Appoint-
ments ea consult ii. good of the service without fear of
violating pecuniary rights. When the successful can-
didate, or the selected University man, or the Queen's Cadet,
has reesaved his appointment of subdientenant for the anti-
quated designations of cornet aud ensign disappear), he begins
a state of probation. The process is defined its the third and
fonrth paragraphs of the Royal Warrant, and is still further
explained in the Memorandum. The proposed system is
similar to that which prevails In the Prussian Army, though
there the candidate bass still further ordeal, and nmst obtain
the approbation ef his future comrades. In our Army sub-
lieutenants will have to serve for 12 months with a regiment,
they will be subject to a strict discipline. and they. niust go ,
thiough such A course of study and pass such a volfeeiooroili
eminitsation as may be fixed from time to tune by the
Secretary of State. They will be removed front the service
for physical Cr moral unfitness, or if they fall to pass satis-
factorily through the prescribed course if study, Or r 0 PASS
the examination for lieutenant within three years. It will
thus be seen that the entrance to the Army is suffielently
gnarled, and if the system he honestly worked a high
standard of excellence must be attained.
Ih'ith respect to Promotion, ills decided that, as a rule,
officers shall rise by seniority to the r‘mk of Major, and that
for the position of Lieutenant-Colonel, who is the com-
mander 44 the regiment, the principle of selection shall
come into play. Purchase and any paytnent of money,
direct or indirect, is not only disallowed, Mit forbidden

under the heaviest penalties. The declarations by which
illicit practices of every kind will be guarded
against are embodied in Articles 13S and 139 of
the Queen's Regulations, and it would be difficult
to devise anything more stringent. It may be assumed that
from this tilllo the purchase of commissions will cease to
exist in any form in the British Army. Thus we have at
length a real basis for the reconstruction of our land forces.
The Militia are brought into closer connexion with the
Regular Army; and the commissions in Imth are now open
to the ambition and the martial spirit of the whole nation.
The field is clear fir whatever genius is destined t 6 orgamirt
lot' lie poe trial body our dispersed and heterogeneous
forces.