The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1888-03-10 00:00:00

SATURDAY, MARCH 10, 1888.

OUR DEFENCES.

THR questions of our defences and their
cost to the country at this present hold the
field. The estimates for the military and naval
services for the forthcoming year are being
discussed more or less hotly in Parliament,
on the platform, and in the press; and any
subject thereto pertaining appears just now
to have public interest. Some prominent
leaders of the militant profession have been
making a strenuous effort to get the whole
matter of our defence sifted by a Royal
Commission, comprehensive and of large
proportions. But Government refuses to
acquiesce in any such great Undertaking as
this, preferring to let Army and Navy, their
equipment, maintenance, and administration
eoatinne to be controlled by the Executive
awl dealt with by Parliament in the ordinary
way. It would donbtless be unwise and inex-
pedient, so to speak, to arraign the Services
under some tremendous indictment of ineffi-
ciency and maladministration, at the bar of
public opinion, and examine into and disclose
every defeet before the eyes of all the world.
But be would be a bold man who would deny
that some searching investigation is sadly
requisite, with the view to economisation
and the abolition of abuses. Every time we
hoar of scandals in this dockyard, malversa-
tion in that department, or improper prac—
tices in the other arsenal, we are more and
more convinced that the Services are not
controlled or catered for solely on the best
business principles, and with that integrity
and in.telligence which we have a right to
expe:it in such a matter. Why even the entire
method of parliamentary audit of expendi-
ture is condemned in the strongest of terms
on being looked into by a practical adminis-
trator like Mr. Forwood. When auythiog
goes wrong, or when ugly charges are made
against officials holdin4 more or less impor-
tant positions, there is a show of a secret in-
quiry, and occasionally a " Jonah " is c tst
overboard to keep the imperilled ship afloat;
brit there the matter nsaally ends. We get no
guarautee that suspected_ corruption shall not
for the future be possible, we have no cone-
-1,11:1t tlx_t millions we spend year by
year cei our own deieno 's will he laid out
e:isely a d well. An ovorpowering convic-
tion, of the necessity that exists for the build-
ing up of a fedi/Ig of reliAnce in the manage.
meut of the nation's defences has pi ompted
Sir Walter Bat ttelot anti oilier members of
Pariinment who specially interest themselves
in military and cognate questions with a de-
sire to look the frets in the face. Hence we
had the motion fu. • a Commission to inquire
iii ';o and report upon the requirements for
tog proteetion of .the Empire; and if no more
was aciaen plished by hereeirable and gallant
inembers who took part in the instructive
&late which ensue I, pit id .0 opinion has cur-
t4ioly been then_ by seesibly aroused to the
sigeifteaneo of the great issues at stake. Those
who are .o strongly persuaded of the need
for an indopeedent ited vet fair and practical
oeerlianling oE Army and Navy administra-
tive arrangements ar by no means at enmity
with Governmental methods, nor are they of
necessity unkindly critics of the permanent
officials connebte.d with the Services. What
Sir liralt,.r Barr i clot, Sir ,John Commerell.
Sir Edward liamley, and other men of mark
in the military and scientific circles are agi-
tating for, is that our defences should be
adequate iu extenVand economically main-
tained, and that their control should Le above
smpiei ii. In their leinaud, that everything ,
possible shall he done to secur that end, the
conTitry is tiVOrMig;ll y with the would_he re_
formers, and whether a Conitni.sion or the
c'artrztet.or sw.fgeatel he or he net the h st
wis of arriving at. the desired rzoi.l,
Ma-
ister and Opposition ought to display that
patriotism which will ensure disp ee:ionwe
eo-operation for the adoption of any plan or
proposal likely to arn.41.1, COnS lidate an
cheapen the cost of the nation's massine.
machinery of protection. The respousibiliry
of the Executive need not at all be limited
or interfered with by any disinterr,ted end,‘a
Yours of this description ;but Pat- :ament and
the country at large should be thoroughly
awake to the impc.rtance4r.. driving the pow-
ers that be to recognise the need for prompt
and unequivocal action.

NUM Irma SOMING WATER.
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