The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1874-04-18 00:00:00

THE CARLISTS.

In reply to Mr. O'Clery, Mi. Bourke said no miestiqn had
yet arisen as to the recognition by her Majesty's Government
of the belligerent rights of the troops of lion Carlos, and
there had been Ito correspondence on the question.
THE ASHANTEE EXPEDITION.

me Speaker informed the House that he had received from
Hajortlen. sir Garnet Wolseley a letter acknowledging the
thanks of the House of Commons for the conduct of the
Ashantee Expedition. Sir Garnet stated lu his letter that he
had requested H.R. H. the Commander-in-Ohiet and the Lords
of the Admiralty to convey to the officers mentioned in the
vote prased by the House the terms of that vote, and to com-
municate them to all the men employed in that expedition.
THE ARMY ESTIMATES.

The Army Estimates stood at the head of the business
paper, but before going into Committee of Supply the House
was occupied for some time by a preliminary discussion
on Army Organization, occasioned by a motion made by
Major Beaumont. It was to the effect that the Reserves
of the country should be formed of men who have
been passed through the ranks of the regular Army ;
and in support of it Major Beaumont, after discussing the
German anti French system of Reserves, sketched out a plan,
Involving the abolition of the Militia, by which he argued
that we might maintain an army of 260,000, of whom ISO.OOO
would be available for foreign or colonial service, with a
saving of a million anti a quarter.
In the course of the discussion which followed, Colonel
North sharply attacked Lord Cardwell s military policy, de-
claring that it was tearing an with no Army at all, amPthat
the Short Service system was is total failure ; General Shute
also condemned the Short Service system as applied to
tie Cavaby and Artillery, and made some practi-
cal suggestions for the improvement of recruitiag.
Mr. O'Reilly argued against Major Beaumont's scheme,
whirls he contended was uttedy impraeticable on
our present scale of recruiting, and if adopted would
be very costly. Sir 11. Wilmot Dickson anti Major Dick comme.n-
.. . .

ted on the unsatisfactory state of the recruiting ; and-Mr.
Butler-Johnstone, who maintained that Lord Cardwells
scheme for the creation of a Reserve Force had failed, advo-
cated universal compulsory service for at least a year in the
Militia After some remarks from Sir G. Balfour,
Mr. Campbell-Bannerman deprecated a precipitate inter-
ference with a system width at present must be described isa
tentative. and showed bow it was premature to pronounce
ally opinion at present on the Short Service system and its
effect on the Reserve forces.
Mr. Hardy said a few words in reply, assuring the Rouse
that the state of the recruiting was not BO taut as had been
represented, that the quality of the recruits on the whole
was as good now as in recent years, and that the great mass
of men in the Army were between twenty and thirty-two
As for the connection between the Reserves and the Militia:
that was a question open for future consideration. After
this,
Major Beaumont withdrew ids motion, and the Rouse went
Into Coo mittee of Supply.
None of the Votes provoked more than a few desultory
criticisms, and the Army Estimates were all completed soon
after nine o'clock.
The Mutiny and Marine Mutiny Bills were read a second
time. The Offences against the Person and the Infanticide
Bills (moved by Mr. Charley) were also rends second time,
and the House adjourned.