The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1869-03-06 00:00:00

Ely (stourlyiy nperinr.

SATURDAY, MARCH 6, 1869.

THE ARMY & NAVY ESTIMATES.

The present Government had no sooner taken
ortiee than directly and indirectly they announced
a policy of reduction in the public expenditure.
We have had incidentally abundant proof that
this policy is not merely one of profession, but
a real and genuine principle of acting. Numer-
ous reductions have been mede in Government
departments, and there are indications that this
same policy is still farther to be carried out.
But the reduced expenditure for our military and
naval services proves to be something beyond,
we believe, the expectations of all ordinary ob-
servers of the career of the present Ministry.
We will take the most startling fact first. The
grand total sum which the House of Commons
will be asked to vote for the entire services of the
army and navy will be £2,1;85.048 less than was
asked for last year—two millions, three hundred
thousand pounds sterling Whether ininiedi-
ately or indirectly, this enormous amount repre-
sents so much less taxation—so much more in
the pockets of the heavily-burdened British tax-
payers ; and therefore it in a fact which will
cause general rejoicing.
As being the heaviest, and therefore the most
important, we will first look .it the army estim-
ates. The total :mount of the estimate for
18119-70 is e. 14,230,400. For 1808-11 the estimate
was £15,455,400, so that the reduction this year
is £1,225,000. But from the first-mentioned
stun we must deduct £1,435,000 for estimated
Exchequer extra receipts, so that the neteharge
for the army services for the present financial
year 1869-70 will only be 132,795,400. When,
therefore, Mr. Cardwell, on Monday next, moves
the army estimates, he will ask the House to
vote t is fourteen millions and odd pounds, and
toe House will readily vote the money. We
cannot expect to see any ruo.lern Joseph Hume
at eiog at the further cutting down either of the
army or navy estimates than the present reduc-
tions have gale, anti many, to doubt, will thick
that these reductions ueve already been carried
to • too great esteet. CM, chief saving has been
effeetod on the effective eerviee of tile arniy,
whieli the present Government considers to have
been nunk.essearily numerous. The principal
reductions are the follt,wing. Four cornets are
ho Won f 'WO each; regiment of cavalry, and
••,. j, the guards is to be
Nr • oil,. Regiment is to
. . Cattediati Bilks are to be
•,tetnO,e, similar
h"thigh '. t I hear on the Cey•
,mm in to t/11 cut off
• 5 frUall each
b ittaiiuu at ii.nue while the esloai ii battalions
Ire %leo to lie reduced by tin ensigns. Great

r, f rrn ia to be effected in the military store de-
pertinent, and a reduction of more than £400,000
will be here accomplished ; while in many other
departments the same policy of retrenchment is
observable.

The navy estimates for 18GFA-O were £9,332,579
while for the financial year 1309-70 they are only
£8,164,708. In round numbers more than a
naullfttn less money is therefore asked from Bri-
tish taxpayers this year than last year. The
chief saving effected is in the wages of seamen
and marines, in naval stores, the building of
ships, and in machinery. The number of men
and boys in the fleet, the coastguard service, Sm.,
is to be reduced from 52,070 to 49,000, while the
marines are to be reduced from 14,700 to 14,000.
This is rather apainful reduction, and one which
will certainly not be popular, but we fear it is a
necessary redaction, and that the few must suffer
for the benefit of the many. More than £91,000
will be saved on naval stores, and considerable
saving will be effected on steam machinery and
ships built by contract; while in many minor
departments the same policy of economy is
rigidly carried out.
The army and navy, and the numerous classes
indirectly r ft log Ey our enormous warlike ex-
penditure in past years, will of course not like
those reductions. They will loudly declaim
a; ainat the pulley wh c twill send the services to
the uogs. But a closer examination of the esti-
mates than we are able here to explain convinces
us that the real efficiency of the services will
not be marred by those reduations. Many of the
savings have been made on the principle of con.
solidation and amalgamation of dutie3, and the
duties will not be neglected. The actual reduc-
tion of men in the army and navy is very small
as compared with the enormous diminution, ap-
proaching two millions and a half, on our total
warlike expenditure. The plain truth is that for
years we have been spending far too much on
Army and navy, and on the host of officials who
have to deal with these services, and whose du-
ties are so complicated by conflicting heads of
departments, that responsibility has too often
been shifted from one to another, to the public
loss. Army reform and navy reform have long
been needed, and they are coming, or rather
have come, at list. It is highly probable that
hail a Conaervativs Government been in power
some of these very ref arms would have been
proposed, though not perhaps to the same ex-
tent. But we mast look at them apart from party
conaiderations, and in themselves we regard
them as of the utmost public benefit. And they
will not only tend to lighten our taxation, but
will produce a good moral effect on the world.
We are not alone in extravagant war expendi-
ture in time of peace. All the continental na-
tions suffer from the same evil, and our example
may be of benefit in this way. The tendency
of the age is towards 'peace, retrenchment, and
reform," towards the development of commerce
and international friendly relations, and towards
the reduction of such necessary evils as stand-
ing armies and permanent war fleets. Mr. Card-
well and Mr. Childers deserve the thanks not of
this country alone, but of the world, for having
developed this policy. The nations of the world
have too long been acting on the motto si cis
preen/ pard /alum—if you wish for peace prepare
for war, though we shall still be prepared for it
should the dire necessity arise.