The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1880-06-12 00:00:00

THE DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE ON THE

ARMY.
sir James M'Garel Mega, M.P., the chairman of
.tho
Metropolitan 13eard of Works, gave, on Saturday evenmg,
the annual dinner to his colleagues, the officers oilthe Board,
and to a distinguished circle of visitors, amongst whom were
the Duke of Cambridge, the Duke of Teak, the Netherlands
Minister, Viscount Boyne, the Earl of St. Germans, the Earl
of Aberdeen, the Earl of Devon, the Earl of Jersey, ctc.,

The Duke of Cambridge, in responding to the toast
of "The Army and Reserve Forces," said :—" I hope
and believe that when the historian comes to deal
with the events of our time he will be able to say that
the British army has on all occasions done its duty
honestly, gallantly, and conscientiously. We often
hear sharp criticism from persona who seem entirely
to forget these difficulties. Well, we do not at all
object to fair criticism for I have no doubt whatever
that it does a great deal of good; but I would like
to point out, when our service is brought into com-
parison with other armies, that nothing is ever heard on
the other side, for they have a fashion in other armies
of keeping everything to themselves. If you inquire
into what happens in other armies when upon active
service you soon find that all are very much in the
same condition in regard to defects and shortcomings;
but while we publish the smallest flaw, and are never
weary of finding fault with ourselves, they take very
good care never to find any fault with themselves,
and to keep everything disagreeable to themselves. I
might enlarge on the difficulties peculiar to our ser-
vice, and show how much more favourably situated
foreign armies are in regard to the duties they have to
perform. In the first place, they never have to conduct
warfare in savage countries as weihave not infrequently
to do in cases where we may be said to be acting as the
pioneers of civilization. Then, again, they have large
armies, while we have a very small one in comparison
with the vast interests Of the empire it is called
upon to defend. They have no difficulty about
keeping the ranks filled through the medium
of conscription, while we have to go into
the labour market and induce men to come and serve.
You sometimes meet with people who think conscrip-
tion would be applicable to this country, and that we
shall have to come to it. I confess lam not one of
those who think so, for I cannot understand how it
could possibly work. All our institutions, all our re-
quirements, all our wants, are entirely opposed to the
idea of a conscript army. I am sure the feelings of
loyalty and patriotism in this country are so strong
that at the first show of danger the whole population
would sprinc, to arms, and instead of calling upon all
your sons and nephews to serve two or three yaars as
a matter of duty and in fulfilment of law, we night
rely on the accession of strength that would thus be
forthcoming. Ido not think with the knowledge we
have of the military spirit of the nation, and of the
enthusiastic martial spirit which we know would be
evoked should danger arise, that we should like to
see conscription established in this country. There is
another thing to remember in connection with conscrip-
tion, and that is, that it is only employed for home-service
armies, whereas ours is a foreicm•service army called
upon to serve in all parts of the world. It seems to
me that it would be a great injustice to force men into
the ranks to go to India oy South Africa. If they
enlist of their own free will, knowing what will be
required of them, they go, as we know, cheerfully
wherever they are ordered. With regard to our reserve
forces, I can only say that, having watched the pro-
gress of the volunteer movement for a good many years
now, I think what we have seen very lately, when a
large body assembled and manceuvred so creditably at
Brighton, may be taken as a proof that the condition
of the force is quite as satisfactory as anybody could
wish. I should like to say incidentally that I have
recently, and by accident, had an opportunity of in-
specting three or four regiments of militia, ana a finer
body of men under the circumstances of the very short
period of their training could not be desired."
In responding to "The health of her Majesty's
Ministers," the Home Secretary said :—" Mr. Dresser
Rogers, in proposing.this toast, referred not to the
political attributes of her Majesty's Government, but
to their administrative capacity. Of her Majesty's
Government in any capacity I have but little to say.
They are like a new-born infant; if they have merits
they are as yet hardly•known, and if they have sins
they belong to the character of original sins, which have
not yet become devolved. (Laughter.) I find that the
opponents of her Majesty's Government are inclined
to attribute to them the crimes of veteran rolas ;
while, on the other side, the supporters of the Govern-
ment seem to expect of them the performance of infant
prodigies. (Laughter.) Lhave no doubt that in good
time, when we grow up into our boyhood, we shall
behave as boys do' and receive the punishment that
boys receive—that in due time we may be birched as
we deserve, and that if the child is spoilt it will not be
from sparing the rod." . . (Laughter.)