The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-03-22 00:00:00

THE HIGHLAND FEATHER BONNET.

Sir H. Maxwell brought before the House the pro-
posed discontinuance of the feather bonnet, of which
he strongly disapproved.
Dr. Farquharson, Colonel Stanley, Sir J. Hay, and
Sir P. O'Brien spoke, the last named remarking with
regard to most of the Scotch regiments that it was
"all humbug" to pretend that they were recruited
from Scotchinen.
Mr. Brand announced that the War Office would not
come to any final decision this year, though no vote
would be taken in the Estimates.

THE ARMY ESTIMATES.
Lord Hartington moved the Army Estimates. After
explaining in detail the reductions and increases on the
various votes, he dwelt at some length on the general
condition of the army. Last year, as he reminded the
committeet he was obliged to admit a considerable
deficiency in the number of men, and a great difficulty
in supplying the necessary drafts. The terms of service,
however, had been made more elastic—a bounty had
been offered to induce men to remain in India, and to
prolong their term of service abroad, and the general
result had attracted more than 33,000 recruits, the
largest number ever known fora single year. The Guards
were now only 100 below their establishment, the
Infantry of the Line about 5000 (the number being last
year 8700), and more than 1000 men had been retained
in India who would otherwise have returned home.
There had also been a great reduction in the waste of
the Army, but as it was certain that a large number of
recruits would be required in the coming year, the mili-
tary authorities had their attention constantly fixed on
the importance of taking every possible step for in-
creasing the popularity of the service. The Militia
had contributed 12,000 men and the Volunteers some
1300. As to the quality of the men, he showed from
the report that there was nothing to complain of,
and he again referred to the Soudan operations as
a proof of the serviceable qualities of the young
recruits. But, on the whole, the short service
system, he contended, gave us the means of filling even
the weakest battalions with men in the prime of life
and completely trained. Next he explained the details
of the proposed increase of the establishments, and
among these he mentioned that the battalions in Egypt
will be increased to the full colonial strength of 800,
and that the battalions at home which are to take their
place as first on the roster for foreign service will be
brought up to their full strength. The total increase of
the Infantry of the Line will be 2400 and with regard
to the Artillery, he stated that four depots are to be
formed—three in England and one in Ireland. The total
strength of the available reserves is 66,000. Of the
Militia, Yeomanry, and Volunteers, the reports were
most favourable, and the present force of the latter is
209,381, of whom 202,428 are efficient& After giving
some particulars of the Medical Service and the Army
Hospital Corps, Lord Hartington related at some length
the progress of the Ordnance Department. With
regard to the heavy naval ordnance three guns of 110
tons—the most powerful in the world—four of 63 tons,
and three of 43 tons will be delivered this year, and the
trials of the new 12-pounder breech-loading field guns
have been of the most satisfactory character.
Mr. Labouchere moved the reduction of the number
of men on the establishment of the Army by 2687. His
main object in moving the resolution was because it
seemed to him that the Government had too many
soldiers at their disposal. They had had wars for the
last 300 or 400 years, and he did not believe that in the
case of a single war which history related it had been
shown that the slightest service had been rendered to
this country, or, indeed, that any of those wars were
necessary.
The Marquis of Hartington defended the vote as
proposed and appealed to the House to support the
Government in the small addition which they proposed
to make to the Army. The addition was owing to the
prolonged occupation of Egypt.
The Committee divided and there voted for Mr.
Labouchere's amendment 31; against, 162; majority
against, 131.

-The vote was then agreed to.
The House subsequently adjourned.

In the HotTsE OF Lomas, March 18, the Habitual
Criminals Act Amendment Bill, which extends the
jurisdiction of magistrates in cases of assault on the
police to obstructing officers in the execution of their
duty was, on the motion of the Earl of Milltown, read
a second time.