The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1880-01-31 00:00:00

c;stottr'Jr‘o.

,-;ATURDAY, JANUARY 31st, 1880.
VOLUNTEERS AND CONSCRIPTS.

It is satisfactory to learn that there is
every probability of a volunteer review on a
large scale taking place near Brighton, on
Etter Monday. For many years after the
volunteer force had been called into existence
in 18,59, the review was an annual institu-
tion ; and either at Brighton, at Dover, or
at Portsmouth, the spectacle was one which
had its interests for those who were pleased
to witness the development of the martial
spirit of the people. Of late years, however
a difficulty has arisen in consequence
of the unwillingness of the railway com-
panies to convey volunteers at a low rate on
a day when all the resources of the line are
absorbed by ordinary passengers It is stated
however, that this year the Brighton com-
pany is willing to come to terms with the
promoters of the review, and should this
turn out to be correct, it will be a general
source of satisfaction. That large annual
v )lunteer reviews are a public benefit, few
who have studied the subject will be disposed
te deny. From the point of view of the
stern military tactician, they may not con-
duce so substantially to that degree of
efficiency which is expected from the more
solid work of the Autumn Manoeuvres,
though even here there is something to be
said on the opposite side. Even suppose the
tacticians to be right, it is obvious that in
many respects these gatherings are bene-
ficial to the volunteers. If the force is to be
recognized as forming an integral part of the
scheme of national dcfence, everything which
tends to make it popular and te increase its
numbers is a benefit not only to the volun-
teers, but to the people,. E xperience has
shown that the Easter reviews have been
fellowed by an increase of enrolment. It is
mere than probable that if the volunteers
never appeared beyond the regimental drill-
seed oe parade ground, their numbers would
soon diminish, and the military spirit of
the nation decline. The reviews give the
men of one regiment the opportunity of
comparing their appearance and general
efficiency with those of the men of other
regiments. Their esprit de corps is stimu-
lated. The "march-past" may not be one of
the means by which battles are won ; yet it
undoubtedly- steadies the men, and helps
them to move with precision. The assemb-
lage of many regiments also gives command-
ing officers mach useful practice in combined
movements. If the island were ever invaded
it would in all likelihood be necessary to
move considerable bodies of volunteers by
_ _

railway- frcm one part of the kingdom to
the other ; and the rapid disembarkation of
soldiers from trains is an operation which
improves with practice. For these and other
reasons, it is gratifying to find that the
Easter Monday review stands a good chance
of again taking its place amonp•st the national
ins• i-utions of Great Britain.
These considerations come appropriately

eno.lgh at a time when the m3st recent dis-
er.,sions in the Germen Parliament have
'Timed unon the large increase in the army
demanded by the Government of that country,
wllich frankly explains that it is necessary
to be prepared to resistasimultaneoasattack
by two great Powers—the Powers clearly
eniugh indicated being France and Russia.
With respect to France the people there
have never made any secret, during the last
nine years, of their intention to be revenged
upon Germany at the Brat favourable op-
portunity. Those who paid a visit to the
French capital after the last war could not
fail to have been struck with the multitude
of instances in which the word "Revanche! "
met their eyes. It was chalked upon the
c.nrtiblicg remains of the public buildings
ii Paris i self ; it stood oat upon the ruins
tne Pala:!e of St. Cloud ; it was inscribed
lon alleqcrica,l pictures in the shop-windows
r-,prosen'in.; Alsace and Lorraine torn from.
France by Prince Bismarck. The reergan-
isation of the French army has been the one
g•rea'-, idea of the statesmen of France ever
since, and that country could now put into
the field nearly 900,000 fighting men.
Rnscia could command a million te'e begin
with, and more to follow. The vast Father-
land, stretching from the Moselle to the
'4-;c, finds itself menaced on the one side
169.11. , and on the other by Russia.
b% 'France 'tack it singlshanded ; but a
14 either will a, nt by both would obviously
Combined movemt>„ peril. Therefore its
place it hi the utmost _ •,1 prudent to in_
statesnien dean it wise au.. million and
t-ease the German array to v. • in such
half. There is something startlinglace
figures. If a collision should take
between hosts so vast and farces tic) ire.
mcmdons, it would be a veritable Armageddon
With the means of slaughter which science
has now placed in the hands of our soldiers,
the destraction of human life must inevitably
be on a scale never before witnessed. It
need hardly be exp!ained that the armies
of these great powers are not
rei4.•aited by voluntary effort. Volunteer
---I:nvs lfl tliese cou-otries are unknown.
comoulsrmv withdrawal of millions of
.ant from industr;al occupations is a sad
and painful picture ill this advanced stage
of our civilization ; but unfortunately- so far
from there being any indications of the
great military monarchies reducing their
armaments, there is every sign that mutual
fear of each other will lead to their increase.

,na Loi,sequently consumers, now that they
have to some extent supplied their' innuediate
wants, decline to give the maximum quota-
tions that have hitherto been obtained.
Prices generally seemed to have settled down
on a steady basis, and the panic movement
to have subsided. Marked bars realized £9
a ton, and unmarked from £8 to £8 10s,
but there were only few transactions at the
higher figure for common iron. Nailrods,
sheets, and hoops were in most request. Pig
iron made in the district sold freely, and coal
and other fuel were in good request.