The Sun.
London, England, 1871-02-17 00:00:00

by the Government, and what preparation had been made disbanded the Cape Rifles, we did nothing to :impair
in support of that threat. the defences or the power of the country. They were an
Mr. GLADSTONE said the arguments used by Mr. Odo immense burden to the British taxpayer, but in reducing
Russell were not authorised by the Government; but the them we did not reduce our pearowera or our peal aboutosition.
House would understand that a certain amount was left (Hear, hear.) Now they had hd good d
attenuated battalions, but the system was first introduced
to the discretion of the official, and though specific instruc-
tions were not given to Mr. Russell, he attributed no by General Peel, whilst a member of the right hon. gen-
blame to him in the course he pursued. (Hear.) tleman's Government. (Hear, hear.) He hadno hesitation in
THE GERMAN EMPIRE. saying that it was the wisest course he could pursue, for
Mr. RYLANDS inquired if it was intended in consequence if we were to have efficiency and economy, we must in
of the establishment of the German Empire to abolish time of peace have attenuated battalions. They were not
the missions to Munich and Stuttgardt, and withdraw the so nice upon parade, and not so agreeable to the cora-
Secretaries of Ledation and Charg6s d'Affaires from Co- manding officer, but they were far more agree-
able to the English tax-payer. General Peel did
burg, Darmstadt, and Dresden.
not reduce his number below six hundred men,
Viscount ENFIELD said the mission at Stuttgardt be-
but at that time he had a reserve bill under
came vacant and had not been filled up, and anything
consideration. The present Government reduced
which might occur in those other localities to which the
the number to 500, when they had a reserve behind them
hon. member had referred was still under the considers-
tion of the Foreign Department. to put into the regiments. He would compare the strength
of the army when the present Goverfiment came into
GOVERNMENT LIFE INSURANCE OFFICE.
office, with the period of last year when
Sir HERBERT CROFT asked the Chancellor of the Ex-
anxiety was felt upon the subject. In Decem-
chequer whether it was his intention to establish a Go-
ber, 1868, the right hon. gentleman had in this
vernment Life Insurance Office. country 89,080 men, and 3,494 reserve men liable to serve
Mr. LOWE said he had never concealed his opinion that
abroad, making altogether 92,574 men. On the Ist of
such offices would confer a great benefit on the country,
August, 1870, there was only a regular force in this coun-
but the opinion of the country was not at all stronuntil it was it would not be wise for Government to move g
,
and
ove try of 84,376, not because the estimates had not provided
more, but because it happened that 5,000 men had not re-
in the matter.
turned from the colonies; but then there were 22,313 reserve

THE WORKSHOPS' ACT.
Sir CHARLES DALRYMPLE inquired if it was the inten
tion of the Home Secretary to take steps to enforce the
provisions of the Workshops' Act, which in many places
was a dead a letter, by making the present inspectors
of factories responsible for workshops, or by any other
means.
Mr. BRUCE said the inspection could not be carried out
with the existing machinery, but he had given instructions
for a bill to be prepared expressing his feeling on the
matter, and he hoped to have an opportunity of bringing
it forward. (Hear, hear.)
THE TRUCK COMMISSION.
Mr. MUNDELLA asked the Secretary of State for the
Home Department if he could state when the report of
the Truck Commissioners would be laid upon the table,
and whether he proposed to legislate upon it this session.
Mr. BRUCE said it would be six weeks before the report
of the commissioners would be presented, and until he had
time to consider the report it would be impossible for him
to say whether any or what steps the Government might
agree to take upon it.
RECRUITING IN THE ARMY.
Mr. DICKINSON asked what number of men had left,
and how many had enlisted since the Ist of August;
whether the 20,000 men voted last session had been en.
listed, or how many and for what term of service, and
whether for army or partly army and partly reserve
service.
Mr. CARDWELL said the total number of men recruited
since the time mentioned by his interrogator, was 26,155,
of whom 22,772 were for long service, and 3,383 for short
service, the actual increase, in the army being 18,351.
REAL ESTATE INTESTACY BILL.
Mr. LOCKE KING asked the First Lord of the Treasury
if he would name an early day for bringing in the Real
Estate Intestacy Bill. •
Mr. GLADSTONE replied that at the present moment he
was not in a position to do so.
SMALLPDX IN THE METROPOLIS.
Mr. HoLMs inquired the number of cases of smallpox
reported among the pauper population of the metropolis,
and the extent of the accommodation provided for them or
in immediate preparation.
Mr. GOSCHEN said the last return shewed that 1,228
persons were suffering from smallpox, and 820 beds were
provided. The insufficiency, however, would be more
than made up in the course of a few days.
THE CAPE DIAMOND FIELDS.
Sir HENRY VERNEY asked whether the Government of
the Cape of Good Hope had taken any and what steps
for the protection of British subjects at the Diamond
Diggings in that Colony.
Mr. KNATCHBULL-HUGESSEN said that Mr. John Camp-
bell, a gentleman of considerable experience, had been ap.
pointed to watch the interests of the diggers, and at pre-
sent no danger nor disturbance was apprhended.
THE ISSUE OF BREECHLOADERS.
Mr. RAIKES asked the Secretary for' War why the
Flintshire Rifle Militia were still without breechloading
rifles, and whether they would be delivered with all con-
venient despatch.
Mr. CARDWELL stated that a portion of the rifles had
been delivered, and the remainder would be with all pos-
sible haste.
PROTECTION OF COMMERCIAL PORTS.
Viscount BANDON asked if inquiries had been made
into the existing means for the protection of Liverpool
and other large commercial ports from attack in the event
of war, and whether it was intended this session to make
provision for thesproper security of such ports.
Mr. CARDWELL replied that no proposal had been con-
sidered by the Government for building fortifications
generally in commercial ports.
THE ANGLO-AMERICAN COMMISSION.
Mr. GOURLEY asked the Government to state the
powers delegated to this Commission, and if they were
empowered to settle the Alabama and Shenandoah
claims.
Mr. GLADSTONE said an answer to the question was
supplied by a paragraph in the speech of her
Majesty from the throne, which stated that
" This arrangement will, by common consent,
include all claims for, compensation which have been, or
may be, made by each Government, or by the citizens of
one upon those of the other." With respect to the powers
of the Commission, it was stated in the same speech,
first, that the Commissioners were appointed for the pur-
pose of discussing in a friendly spirit with the Commis.
sioners appointed by the Government of the United
States the various questions and differences which had
arisen, with a view to their amicable settlement ; and,
secondly, that if any difference arose as to the manner in
which any particular matter should be disposed of, it
should be reported at once by telegraph, so that further
instructions might be given. (Hear.)
THE GOVERNMENT AND PEACE.
Mr. AUBERON HERBERT asked the First Lord of the
Treasury whether an application had been made during
the last few days by France to the English Government
to lend their good offices with a view to secure moderate
terms of peace.
Mr. GLADSTONE, in reply, said that the Government of
National Defence thought that in order to facilitate the
progress of the formation of a Government, as little delay
as possible should be made in an appeal to the people.
Lord Granville had communicated with M. Sissot, to the
effect that after the Government was constituted, her
Majesty's Government would be willing to receive and
consider any application made to them on the subject from
the French Government.
ARMY RE-ORGANISATION, BILL.
Mr. CARDWELL, on the House going into Committee of
Supply, said that since the House had last met to con•
eider the question of military organisation and expend':
ture, events had taken place in Europe as startling as any
which had ever been recorded in history. These events
had excited in the minds of the English peo-
ple an anxious interest, and a settled purpose
to review our own military position ; we had no
reverses to repair—(hear, hear)—nor had we to build
up a new superstructure, but rather to combine in one
harmonious whole the forces of the country. After
referring to the system of voluntary enlistment which
prevails in our service, he said, although about to intro-
duce a bill for recronisation, it was not from any feeling of
alarm towards other nations. He proposed first to deal with
the estimates:and then to refer to the bill which the Govern-
ment were about-to introduce ; and in doing so, he should
refer to the question of conpulsory and voluntary ser-
vice, the militia, and the reserve forces, and the position
of the lords-lieutenants of counties, with regard to the
auxiliary forces. The right hon. gentleman then pro-
ceeded to quote from a speech of Mr. Pitt in 1803, in which
he expressed an opinion that we ought not to trust
solely to our standing army. The estimates for the
year 1870-71 amounted to £15,851,700, being an increase
of £2,886,700 over those of last year. With respect to a
charge which had been brought against him of having
disbanded a portion of the army, the troops that were
so disbanded were colonial corps only, and he believed it
was now an established principle of the House, that the
British taxpayer should not be charged for the defence of
the colonies. (Hear. hear.) No one had more forcibly
expressed his opinion on this subject than the Colonial
Secretary of the late Government. When we disbanded
the Canadian Rifles, who had to maintain our frontier be-
tween the United States and Canada, no one could
say our power was diminished, and when we

men, making altogether 1106,689, against 92,000 when the
Government took office—(hear, hear)—or 14,000 addi-
tional men, whilst the estimates were reduced £2,250,000.
(Cheers.) The policy of attenuated regiments he was pre-
pared to follow, if he had reserves to fill them when neces-
sity arose. He had never been enthusiastic as to the
militia reserve ; but he could not understand
how those who were the very persons
organise the force should speak in its disparagement.—
[Sir JOHN PAKINGTON : I have not disparaged it.] He
believed they could have a better reserve than that,
namely, an army reserve ; and it was believing this
that he last year introduced his bill upon the
subject of short service, which he held to be
at the root of such a force. ,Having, therefore,
provided for a better reserve than his predecessor he felt
he had a right to fall back upon the policy of attenuated
regiments in time of peace. (Hear, hear.) He wished to
say a few words upon the subject of recruiting
in
answer to what had been advanced as to the
movement having failed. The report of the
inspector-general of recruiting proved that the work
commenced in the middle of harvest, and that it was
begun without a bounty; and he took the liberty of re-
minding them that it was last year an accepted dogma
that recruiting without a bounty was impossible. They,
however, began without it, and the lists almost imme-
diately filled to the 20,000 men required. They obtained
a larger number of recruits than during the Crimean
war in the same period, and almost the same as during the
Indian Mutiny, which was looked upon as the period of
rapid recruiting. Having removed the bounty, he thought
it was only fair that the system of ranking should cease
at once, and this was provided for. With regard to the
subject of recruits, he would say that they were
sent away without any security. They simply had their
railway ticket given them—they went alone to, join their
regiments ; and a very small decimal represented the per
centage that did not so join. Many were only the result of
accidental circumstances, and they afterwards found their'
way to their regiments, which disposed of the idea that
any undue advantage was taken. The recruiting for the
year was on the whole very satisfactory ; but as yet he
had not been able to fill up from the regiments into the
reserves, but directly the ranks were filled
they would begin passing men into the reserves.
The campaign which had just taken place had satisfied
everybody that short-service soldiers could be excellent
men—(hear)—and he hope the House would enable the
Government to carry out to a greater extent the principle
of short service, both in the Army and in the reserve'
The Government had issued a circular to the commanding
officers of militia regiments to know whether they
would be able to raise additional battalions, anti
the result was an answer that an addition 01,
45,000 men could be raised in England, Scotland, 00
Ireland, and consequently they had calculated for ttl
present year that there would be a militia force of 150,0
men. He proposed to introduce into the bill a clanl
which would sanction the raising of a force of militia Nvi,l'P
such limits as Parliament might impose.
the course of the past year there had lien
an increase of 947 efficient and' 7,384 e%trsc
efficient volunteers, and schools of instruction
opened in the autumn had been very generally attended'
Though the latter arrangement did not create a satisfae.
tory impression in the House last year, it had beee,
favourably received by the volunteers. The present
strength of the regular army was 135,000, 139,000 militia'
14,000 yeomanry, 9,000 army of reserve,
making a total of 327,000 ; and if they added the efficieev
volunteers the whole force would reach 497,000. (Cheersi
30,000 pensioners,
Of the regular army there were in this country 108,1-°
men. There had been an aggregate increase in the art'llf
lery, cavalry, engineer train, army service corps, &c.,
21,191. The horse artillery had been raised from seven t°
sixteen batteries ; twenty garrison batteries had VI
turned into field batteries, and that made a tot
:
of 336 guns, which would be sufficient for 150,000
The first question was, whether there was to be voluntnuo
or compulsory service ; whether, in fact, they meant ti
adhere to their former system, or meant to adopt one °,l
the many plans of compulsory service which had he.ere
suggested. It appeared to him that they should re(itilto
satisfactory proof of the advantage of
.0
alteration before they entered into a systemicl4ll
would be distasteful to the country. `vo
said that compulsory service would ' solve /0
difficulties, but that involved compulsory service for "80
standing army, a proposition which nobody had yet he
bold enough to support. As the system of volunto
enlistment worked well, why should they depart from
and establish compulsory service ? To the rich COelPoti
sory service with the ballot was simply an injustice :to
inequality, as, if a wealthy man were struck by
ballot, he would pay a large sum for a substitute whe,l3ol
ought to contribute only his portion as a member o'
ali
community ; whilst the poor man had taken from
he possessed. (Hear.) This would have the effec
raising the price for substitutes in the market, and(/
hancing the price for the recruit in the army. '-ale,
vernment were not prepared to recommend that ~,tY
should be compulsory service either with or without
stitutes—(cheers)—but they proposed inserting in tlie,
a clause which in case of great emergency would eilleciY
the Sovereign to call Parliament together to
whether there should be compulsory service ett
He would now refer to two questions, that
purchase and the position of Lords LientfeA
of Counties with regard to the reserve
It was the desire of Parliament an opirl
country to unite all the defensive forces into a hal1150i;:l
and compact body,—(hear, hear,)—so that they
ip‘4l
enjoy greater efficieney and. should he 4, tt'd
under one Government. It was thongll"
it was inconvenient for the regular force to I.)e fot'r
the control of the Crown, and the auxiliary fo
under the command of the Lords Lieutenants. De5%.1
chase system had begun at a time when the aroll
In 1857 a Royal Committee was appointed to
nta ii,
into the question. The report of that committe e° vist
many reasons why the system should be retain
also mentioned that the regulation prices Poici
missions was a mere action, and that it en
N, c°lo,l
mercenary feeling among the officers. 'e f`r/
anything be more alien to the spirit of teals
than the quality spoken of ? Fourteen ~l.eotei),„,o'
it was proposed to abolish the purchase of ;poi
colonelcies in accordance with the recommendsmaey
tallied in that report. In 1860 A Lord
Government had determined to adopt this ree°'
tion; but nothing had been done in the raatteriiest°cl
curred to himthat what applies to the colonel girieetie,
major also. In 1868 he proposed to abolish 00 1
cornet and ensign, but when he brought
it fill
tion before the House it met `pith Witt
reception. (Laughter.) He was Inet.tv,
objection that he had omitted to PNvi„t, ,1,
regulation price between ensign and lieute7o
were stringent laws in existence against any scoisoV,
regulation price being paid ; and yet a RcYgi 0,04 jot'
had approved it. He was inclined to agree,,
Grey, who said, " Better let purchase 5101;0001,,
propose to abolish it." (Hear, hear.)
tt 09;6
demanded in the organisation of the army, ;11 veciet.ll,
not stir in this matter without interfering
interests. To abolish purchase in the army
t 0 see;
would, it was estimated, cost from 7-i millions 40°, 11 to
sterling. Then they would also have to
.',40 V
of
ore e
question of retirement. It was inll3° „ rag Ail
accurately with the amount which would tut
ttit
pro vide, for this retirement in the arnlY