The Express.
London, England, 1867-03-08 00:00:00

THE MILITIA BALLOT.

Lord ELCHO gave notice that on going into committee
of supply on the supplemental army estimates he
would move " that in the opinion of this house
the state has a right if need be to require the personal
military services of its citizens for the purposes of national
defence, and that with a view to the more complete,
effective, and economical organisation of the military
capabilities and power of the nation the militia ballot
should be enforced on all persons between 10 and 21 years
of age, without allowing substitutes, but with exemp-
tions for efficient services to the volunteer forte." (" Hear,
hear," and laughter.)
THE FENIAN DISTURBANCES IN IRELAND.

Mr. FORTESL'UE asked the Secretary of State for the
Home Department what communications had been received
from Ireland that day.
Mr. WALPOLK—Some despatches have been received
this morning, giving a more detailed account of what has
occurred than that announced by my noble friend the
Secretary for Ireland. Ido not know that there is much
information given in those despatches beyond what has
appeared in the leading journalsof theday. rerhapslmight
say that I regret to find that in some of those journals the
facts are rather more highly coloured than they need
have been. The only account I have received this morn-
ing is the following:—" 11.45 a.m.—Railway line open to
Cork. Thirteen prisoners brought into Limerick froni
Kilmannock ; some wounded ; three shot dead. No event
of any importance is reported as having occurred last
night. Dublin, Cork, Limerick, and Waterford are all
quiet." (Cheers.)_...

•
ARMY ESTIMATES,
In Committee of Supply General PEEL explained the
army estimates, which he said at the outset exceeded
those of the present year by 412,806/., and the actual
expenditure of 186.1-6 by 637,4671., raising the ordinary
average from 1001. per man to 1061. But this excess, he
argued, arose from a series of exceptional causes entirely
beyond control, and not from any increase in the number
of men. The extra day of Leap-year would cost 21,7001.,
the warrant for the increase of medical pay 18,11001.,
the garrisoning of the Straits Settlement and certain
alterations in the Commissariat in Ceylon (brought
for the first time into the Estimates) absorbed
128,0001., the extra cost of provisions and forage
..r2,700/., the additional cost of recruiting (caused by
the necessity of raising 32,600 instead of 18,000 re-
cruits, to supply the place of the large number
of ten years' men discharged this year) was
60,0001. the issues of clothing due this year would
cost 79,000 t., and furlough pay 20,0001. But when the
accounts of the actual expenditure of last year were made
out, he maintained that the excess of this year's estimate
would not appear so great, and in proof of this he went
intoan elaborate comparison of the first seven votes, which
depended entirely on the number of men voted, and
showed that the average cost per man was almost identi-
cally the same in the twa years. General I'eel then
cursorily over the various votes, mentioning that
posed
en per regiment were to be added to the Indian
depots, a new corps was to be raised for Hung Kong, and
an addition to be made to the Staff corps ; while,
on the other aide, regiments returning home would
be reduced to 600 for the first year, and gra-
dually increased until their turn for foreign ser-
vice came round again. On the vote for the
manufacturing departments, he stated that 426 riled
guns had been turned out during the year, including
the first instalment of the heavy guns for the fortifications,
and he gave a long account of the experiments with the
Snider-Enfield, from which he drew the re-assuring con-
clusion that it was quite as good as that possessed by any
other country. It was intended to convert 350,000, but
there he recommended the conversion should stop. Passing
next to the report of the army recruiting commission, and
after mentioning that the mere impression created by the
appointment of the commission that something was to be
done for the improvement of the soldier's condition
had produced a considerable effect on recruiting,
he went through their various recommendations, spe-
cifying those which he had adopted ; such as the ap-
pointment of an inspector of recruiting, enlisting for
general service instead of for particular regiments,
and that rewards should be given to enlisters. Instead
of granting additional rations and paying for certain
necessaries as recommended by the commission, be proposed
to give an additional twopence per day to the collier
during the first term of service, which was to be fixed at
twelve years, and another penny per day during the second
term, of nine years. The cad of thin would be 399,000/. ;
and he defended the course he proposed, on the ground
that it would be more attractive to the men themselves,
and that every shilling of the increased cost would go
directly into the pockets of the soldiers. General Peel
next explained his proposals for the establishment of an
army of reserve. This army would be divided into a first
and second reserve, and when a regiment came home from
foreign s,rvice' instead of being sent into camp or gar-
rison, it would be placed in some town where the duty was
light. Long furloughs would be granted to the men,
and if they could succeed in obtaining civil employ.
ment, such of them as had served two-thirds of their first
term of service, including five years abroad, would be
allowed to complete the term in the first reserve. This
reserve would be attached to the militia, and would be
liable to be drafted into the regular army and sent on
foreign service at any moment. The second reserve would
be attached to the pensioners, and in it soldiers complet-
ing their second term of service would in the same way be
allowed to complete the term, two years in the reserve
counting as one in the line, and the condition being that
they should only be called on to serve at home. A cer-
tain proportion of the militia—which would be raised to its
full strength of 120,000 men—say one quarter, would be in-
vited to enrol in the first reserve, the inducement being
double bounty—Se., 12/. spread over five yaws: By this
means it was hoped to obtain an army of First Reserve of
close upon 40,000 drilled men, by which 50 battalions
might at any moment be raised to their full strength of
1,000 men, and the cost would be about 500,0001.
The Marquis of HARTINGTON was under the impres-
sion that the reserve scheme would injure the efficienoy
of the militia, but deferred pronouncing a definite opinion
on it until further explanations had been given ; and re-
commended the committee to follow his example. On the
general estimates he maintained that the excess on last
year's estimates was larger than General Peel had stated,
and indicated various items on which a reduction might be
possible.

After some remarks from Mr. O'REILLY, in defence of
the recruiting commission, pointng out that the composi-
tion of a reserve force was not referred to them, and ex-
pressing a general approval of General Peel's scheme,
Mr. GLADSTONE asked fur some further explanation
as to the ultimate cost of the plan, particularly as to its
indirect effect on the cost of recruiting. Admitting that
an increase in the coat of the army might be inevitable
from the general advance in prices, he was disappointed
that no attempt had been made to seek a compensation in
reductions where they were possible, and insisted on the
necessity of a special organisation for keeping down our
military expenditure.
In the desultory discussion which followed on various
points in the estimates and the reserve scheme, Lord E.
Cecil urged a reorganisation of the War-office. Mr. H.
Seymour made a smart attack on the commission, which
was defended by Colonel W. Patten and Mr. Whitbread ;
Colonel North advocated a more liberal scale of pensions,
and Sir C. Russell the employment of soldiers in indus-
trial occupations. Other suggestions were made and
questions asked by Mr. Newdegate, Lord Hothain, Colonel
Gilpin, Colonel North, Colonel Sykes, Captain Vivian,
and Mr. Childers, anal nearly every speaker expressed
regret at General Peel's retirement.
General PEEL having made a general reply, the first
vote of 139,1113 men was agreed to.