The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1887-07-02 00:00:00

ARMY AND NAVY ESTIMATES
* COMMITTEE.

Mr. Knox, Accountant-General to the War Office,
was again examined before the Select Committee of
the House of Commons, on Tuesday, appointed to
examine the Army and Navy Estimates. The chair
was occupied by Lord R. Churchill. He put in
various documents called for at the last meeting,
consisting of memoranda showing the fluctuations in
, the rates of regimental pay of the officers since 1870,
I in the pay of men under various warrants issued since
1870, and also the number of courts-martial from 1805
to 1885. In handing in the last mentioned document,
he wished to refer to an answer ha had given, which
seemed to have misled some--namely, that the
Judge Advocate-General's department cost £4OOO
a year for the mere purpose of superintending an
expenditure of £250 a year. The £250 consisted
of fees given to an officer to superintend the courts-
martial which might be appointed by the general
officer. The duties of Judge Advocate-General con-
sisted of revising the decisions come to by the courts-
martial, and these for a long series of years came to
7000 a year. His other duties consisted of advis-
ing the Secretary of State as to the various points of
military law which might arise. He also put in a
memorandum showing the number of officers who
-retired on reaching the complete period of service,
and he found that, after twenty years' service, 215
per cent of the officers who had completed their period
retired.
Examined as to the Education Vote, he stated that
the duties of the Director of Militaiy Education com-
prehended everything in connection with the educa-
tion of the army, and the superintendence of the
Military College. The whole of the examinations and
. promotions were under his control.
Colonel Nolan: What does the second treasurer, in
connection with the Royal Military Academy, do for
his salary of £7OO a year?—He has to do with the
1 amount of fees paid.
That can be done in a few hours ?—I do not
suppose that is all he has to do, but that is one of his
duties.
Are you of opinion that it is necessary to have
so much schooling for the soldiers themselves,
apart from the children ?—No, I do not think it is
necessary.
Would you give them schooling at all ?—I would
not; and I would not make it compulsory on
soldiers to take schooling. The soldiers generally do
not like it.

Would not some instructors in each garrison, to in-
struct the soldiers who wished instructions, suffice?
—Yes; and it wauld be much cheaper. The children
of officers of the army admitted into Woolwich and
Sandhurst do not pay the maximum rates charged to
children of civilians. There is not so much competi-
tion for entry into Woolwich, but there is still con-
siderable competition for entry to Sandhurst. At
present all admissions to the arms are through the
militia and Sandhurst.

Mr. Stanhope: Have you considered whether it
would be possible to make all the appointments
through the militia, and get rid of Sandhurst alto-
gether ?—I have frequently considered the matter,
and I think it could be done. An open competition
w'th militia training would, I think, be a sufficient
means of testing qualities for admission into the
army. It would immensely strengthen the militia,
and create an efficient reserve of military officers.
Every man who now entered the militia has, to go to
somu school of instruction, where he gets a certain
amount of military training, which he can get more
cheaply than in the Academy. They can get all the
necessary instruction outside the Academy.
Mr. Caine: So that in your opinion the whole vote
could be got rid of ?--Of course, it would effect very
considerable modifications. I think the Army
Medical School might also be got rid of.
The Chairman: What would have been the reduc-
tion on this vote if the various suggestions you make
as to the reduction or abolition of certain educational
establishments had been carried out, making allow-
ance, of course, for anything that might be raquired
in substitution ?—lt would be difficult to say, but I
should think you might save £30,000 a year.
On Vote 113 —the administration of the army—
witness stated that the expenditure in 1874-75
amounted to £205,000, and for the present year
£258,000. showing an increase of £50,000 a year.—
In answer to the chairman, he stated that, comparing
the present year with 1871-72, the increase had been
£BO,OOO, and turning only so far back as 1880, the
increase had been no less than £38,000 in the cost of
the War-office. This increase, the witness explained,
arose from various transfers of charges from other
votes to this vote, and on being called on to specify
the transfers he held he accounted for £40,000, and
the chairman held that there was a sum of £12,000
unaccounted for.

ONE of the rules of a bicycle club reads: "A horse
should never be passed on both sides at once." We
suspect that when a bicyclist attempts to pass on both
sides of a horse "at once he is expelled from the
club. He would certainly be dismissed from a tem-
perance organisation.
A GLASGOW woman having fallea into the Clyde at
the Green, her husband went to look for her, proceed-
ing up the stream from where she fell in. The by-
standers asked him if he was mad. He answered:
She was obstinate and contrairy in her liftitime, and
,t will be the game a:, death.