The Sun.
London, England, 1870-11-18 00:00:00

SPURTING INTELLIGENCE.

SHREWSBURY RACES Y ESTERDAT.
LONGNER STEEPLECHASE.

.__.
Souvenance ....
Bonaparte 9
Five ran.
SELLING HURDLE. ,

Leases
Spitfire
Wild Bee

G
3

Six ran.
HANDICAP HURDLE STAKES.
Standard nea.ret
Wamba
Victress...

• 1
2
3

Three ran.
SELLING NURSERY.

Minette
Daisy Queen
Eliza

Four ran.
WELTER PLATE.

Masaniello......•• •
Cantate
Leonides

'Four ran.
COLUMN HANDICAP.

Moslem
Wild Flower.... ••••••
Nero
Ten ran.
CASTLE NURSERY.

Royunte
Blenheim
King of Clubs!
Nine ran.
FORESTER PLATE.

Antdri. . • •
Witchcraft
Mdlle. St; Igny.... +r,.111. 1'
Ten rat!•

SHORTS SELLING STAKES.
Seringapatam
Sallie
Minytus
Seven tan,

COLONEL ANSON, M.P., ON MILITARY

MATTERS.

Colonel the Hon. A. H. A. Anson, M.P., V.C., was
present at the annual dinner of the Lichfield Liberal
Association on Tuesday night, and in replying to the
toast of his health, said the great war which was going
on abroad had taught us the truth of the well-known
saying that Providence was on the side of the big batta-
lions, especially when those big battalions were led by
highintellects, and organised hi such a way that nothing
ever went wrong either with their ttanspoit or supply
services. The Chancellor of the Exchequer, who was in
that neighbourhood on a visit to Mr. Bass, M.P., and
who he should have been glad to see present, said at
Elgin that the war had taught us that stand-
ing armies were of no use. Mn Lowe in this
remark very nearly hit the point but just missed it.
The real lesson that the war had taught us was
that standing armies were of no use unless they were sup-
ported by the nation by means of some such organisation
as the Prussians possessed. It was perfectlytrue that
there was a very great chance against our ever being
Called tipoil to defend this country except with our navy ;
but the experience of the last three months should teach
us the danger Of being over-confident; Could anyone
suppose that any army this country could produce tinder
the present system would be of the slightest rise in case
of invasion? If England were ever invaded it Would be
by hundreds of thousands of men, win& 'e shoUld have
to meet with the whole strength of the nation. He advo-
cated not the Prussian system, but the Prussian principle.
He would have the country divided into so many military
districts, each to provide a certain number of militia
battalions. No man should serve in the militia for
more than one year, but he would have that year's
service a consecutive one. The reason why our militia
and volunteers were now worth very little was that their
trainint, was so intermittent that they were never
thoroughlyb grounded in their work and in the great art of
knowing how to obey. Ile did riot think it possible to
snake an • efficient militiaman under a year's service.
When the time of danger came we did not know where
to lay our hands upon the men we wanted. But to
meet such an objection it might be provided that if
any district were ready with the prescribed number of
men, those drawn by the ballot—which he would still
have take place—should not be called upon to
serve, but should merely be registered. He would
have militia officers appointed in the same way as officers
of the regular army were now, and would require them to
be properly trained. He believed that the militia force,
thus properly organised and officered, and properly sup-
plemented by sufficient artillery and the nucleus of a
transport and supply services, would prove a perfect
defence for the country, and tend to prevent those dis-
graceful panics which were now so frequently occurring.