The Press.
London, England, 1855-08-18 00:00:00

THE WAR.

On Tuesday Sir Da L►CY EVANS took advantage
of the half-hour's interval while the Commons were
waiting the summons of Black Rod to hear the
Prorogation Speech in order to make a few last ob-
servations touching the conduct of the war. He
contrasted the British forces arrayed in the

prosecution of hostilities towards the close of the
last war and the army at present engaged or em-
bodied. The existing force, he declared, was far
inferior in strength, although the country generally
had so largely expanded in population and wealth.
Pointing out various departments which required in-
vigoration, and suggesting some plans for that
purpose, he called upon the Government to pledge
themselves to increased energy and sincerity in carry-
ing on the contest. Sir De Lacy Evans proceeded
to indicate many sources, in the colonies and else-
where, whence considerable numbers of troops might
be spared or obtained to reinforce the army at the
seat of war :

The army in India numbered 320,000 men, of whom
40,000 were Europeans. This large army was available
for the purposes of the present war. He wished to see
it so made available ; at the present moment, however,
but a very small force was drawn from that service. He
thought that at least 10,000 men ought to be afforded from
that quarter. Some of the ir. 3ullir force, too, might well
be employed at the Cape of Goad Hope ; for the peculiar
nature of the service there it was well fitted. There were
at the present time seven well-seasoned battalions at the
Cape which ought to be made available for service in the
East. British troops were also stationed at Ceylon and at
Hong• Kong, where there presence was not absolutely
necessary. Indeed, from various sources he believed that
ten battalions might be made up, and sent out within a
short time to the Crime. He believed, too, that arrange-
ments might be made with our Australian and other colo-
nies by which the presence of many British soldiers might
be dispensed with. Of course if his views were adopted
with regard to the Indian army, it would be necessary to
increase the native force, but in Oat step he saw no diffi-
culty. He believed that so little difficulty was experienced
that no bounty was given upon natives entering the service.
This question of bounties was an important one. He be-
lieved that we were now giving from 181. to 251., and that
these sums induced many to join who afterwards deserted.
During the last war 101. was the highest bounty, and even
then from five to six in the thousand was the number of
men who deserted. [The hon. gentleman's attention was
here directed to the fact that the hour appointed for proro-
gation was at hand.] He was warned that his hour had
almost come—(a laugh )—but there were one or two points
to which he would very briefly advert. He was very glad
to hear that the Foreign Legion was at length almost
formed, and that it was about to proceed to the seat of war.
He trusted that the Government would take care that both
it and the Turkish Contingent were furnished with im-
proved descriptions of arms. Bodies like these required
greater attention in these and other matters than regular
troops, in order to render them efficiently useful. Much
had been said with regard to a Polish Legion. (" Hear,"
and laughter.) For_ his own part he could not see why
there should be any delicacy in levying such a corps. The
whole of Poland did not belong to Austria, and the Poles at
present scattered throughout Europe might be permitted
to engage in the present contest whilst Russia possessed a
large portion of their territory.