The Sun.
London, England, 1870-08-01 00:00:00

OUR DEFENCELESS CONDITION.

The condition of our military and naval armaments is
at present occupying an unusual share of public aitention.
With regard to the army, the Army and Navy Gazette
says :—" Last month, according to official returns there
were on paper serving in Great Britain and the Channel
Islands 33,740 infantry ; 11,167 artillery, including both
field and garrison, of which about 5,500 were available
for field service , and 7,060 cavalry. In Ireland there were
15,130 infantry ; 2,558 cavalry, and 1,191 artillery. The
force in Ireland, unfortunately, in the present state of the
country, cannot be reduced. We hope that, in the event
of war, it will not have to be increased. At least 10 per
cent. has to be deducted from the force on paper
in Great Britain for casualties, if we wish to know
the effective force. We have, therefore, 30,000 infantry,
5,000 artillery, and about 5,500 cavalry,
including the
Household troops. Were the prospect of war im-
minent, our Mediterranean garrisons would have to be
reinforced by at least 8,000 infantry. Portsmouth, our
arsenals and dockyards, would have to be• protected.
With their present organisation and state of efficiency
these duties could not be entrusted to the militia and so-
called reserve. Possible 10,000 infantary and 4,000
cavalry might be left at our disposal and even this force
could be with difficuly maintained. Such being the case,
We consider that the confidence of some of our contem-
poraries is misplaced, and that their boasts almost amount
to " bluster." It can scarcely be considered unjustifiable
curiosity if we are anxious to know what the Government
propose to do, fully believing, as we do, in the truth of the
old saying 'Si vis pacem para bellum.' "

- -
The Broad Arrow last week formed a rough estimate of
the available strength of the troops in England as being
certainly under 60,000 men, all told. Our contemporary
adds to-day :—" We are now able to state that
the contracts issued for rations in Great Britain
specify 7,500 cavalry, 35,000 infantry, 11,000 Artil-
lery, 2,300 Engineers, and 1,000 Control—making a total
of 56,800 men of all ranks and arms, exclusive of the
staff. After making the necessary reductions for the sick
list and other causes, the battalions would certainly not
exceed an average of 400 men each ; we are, therefore,
quite justified in repeating our conviction that, if we
were called upon to despatch 10,000 men to the Medi-
terranean, and the like number to Belgium, we should
be at the end of our immediate resources. In the
present state of Europe this fact is too startling to call for
comment, and it is not surprising; considering how many
there must be who have a vague idea of our defenceless
condition, that a variety of rumours with regard to the
placing of the British army on a war footing have been in
circulation for the last few days. Without taking upon
ourselves to disclose the secrets of the State, we may say
that this important question is under the serious considera-
tion of the Cabinet, as also is the expediency of embodying
a portion of the militia."

COMPENSATION FOR A RAILWAY AC CIDEN T.
A collision occurred on the Lancashire and Yorkshire
Railway at Salford on Friday, the 28th of May, 1869,
whereby a number of passengers were more or less
severely injured, amongst them being Mr. James Vickers,
pawnbroker and general clothier and draper, Bolton, and
Mr. Roocroft, 'boot and shoe maker, of the same town.
The latter tradesman obtained £2OO compensation as the
award of the jury who tried the case. In the case of Mr.
Vickers—without going into court, the company, looking
at all the facts, have agreed to settle the matter by pay-
ment of the sum of £1,250 in full satisfaction of all
demands for compensation and costs.

EX-SENATOR FRELINGHYUSEN TO SUCCEED
MINISTER MOTLEY.—The President has finally made this
appointment, as rum our had ithe woul d. Mr. Frelinghuysen
is a man well calculated to do the duties of the position in
a manner becoming to the dignity and honour of the
Government. He is an experienced statesman and an ac-
complished scholar, and, better than all, he has a broad
American view of the questions pending between this
country and England. Mr. Sumner's unseemly attack on
the President for making the appointment is as reprehen-
sible as Fenton's action regarding the Custom House ap-
pointments, for it was engendered by the same feeling of
personal spite that cannot see beyond its own little malice.
—New York Herald.

OURS—A FAIR. OPENING FOR INDEPENDENCE.—
Captain General De Rodas has just returned to Havana,
and the campaign against the Cubans may fairly be con-
sidered as at an end, for the present, at least. Looking at
the late campaign from an unprejudiced stand-point we
cannot help coming to the conclusion that while the
Spaniards have accomplished little with well equipped
and well disciplined soldiers, the Cubans, lacking
these, have been able not only to hold their own,
but to gain a little. Lately the Cubans in the East-
ern Department have been active. So much so, in
fact, that more troops have been asked for by the Spanish
generals. Where the reinforcements asked for are to
come from it is difficult to say. It is out of the question
to think that in the present state of affairs in Europe
Spain can forward them. Now is the time for the Cubans
to hit hard and hit often. They have a chance which they
should hot lose. Spain's difficulties at home may prove
Cuba's opportunity to win her freedom.—Ncw
rork
Herald, July 16th.
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