The Sun.
London, England, 1860-05-31 00:00:00

THE ARMY ESTIMATES.

Major EDWARDS asked the Secretary of State for
War, whether any correspondence had passed between the
War Office and the Treasury, or any other department of
the Government, respecting the omission from the army
estimates of the usual vote for the annual training of the
Yeomanry Cavalry ; and, if so, whether he had any ob -
jection to produce such correspondence. He drew the
attention of the house to the fact, that when the
country was threatened with invasion by the
first Napoleon, they had a force of 300,000 vo-
lunteers at their disposal. (Hear.) Ho believed that
the omission proposed would have a most injurious
effect on the cavalry force, and would prevent their retain-
ing as good horses as they would otherwise have done. He
eulogised the volunteer force, and contended that notwith-
standing opinions to the contrary, they would be found
brave and effective when an emergency which required
their services arose. The gallant gentleman cites the
statement made by Pitt on the subject of providing ade-
quate defences for the country, and called on the house not
to sanction a vote that would impair the efficiency of a con-
stitutional force that for two centuries had rendered the
country good service.
Sir J. TRELAWNY called attention to the selection of
lieutenant-colonels of regiments upon the relative posi-
tions of the Guards and Line in cases of exchange ; and
asked whether the grade of salaried full colonels might not
be abolished (as regards the future) without disadvantage,
and so as to effect a considerable saving.
General PEEL said he wished to offer a few observations
before the hon. gentleman the Secretary of War re plied.
He considered that it was most desirable there should be a
permanent and adequate peace establishment, and he denied
that the expenditure for war purposes justified the terms
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acting on those opinions, increased the forces by over 6,000.
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details in support of his views. He contended that every
opportunity should be afforded to the militia in order
to render them efficient, considering the valuable
services they might render the regular troops.
Ile thought that if they were not made effective
it would be better to abolish them altogether. He ex-
pressed considerable approval of the volunteer force, and
maintained that it would be impracticable to effect any re-
duction of the estimates dependent on the number of men
iu the army. Notwithstanding this it was now proposed '
to reduce the army estimates by flB,OOO, while they in-
creased the number of soldiers. There was also to be con-
sidered the expense that would be incurred by the erection
of the barracks that was proposed.
Mr. J. LOCKE called the attention of the house to the
claims of the artificers of the Land Transport Corps en-
listed during the Crimean war, for the non-fulfilment of
the conditions under which they were so enlisted;
and asked the Secretary of State for War,
whether it was the intention of the Government to satisfy
those claims, or to cause an inquiry to be made respecting
them. He said that there had been an inadequate inquiry
into this subject, and considered that there should be
a commission composed of persons competent to de-
cide the claims made by the corps in question. This corps
was enlisted under peculiar circumstances. In 1856 it was
considered necessary to form a corps containing a body of
artificers to serve in the Crimea. These men were earning
a competency for themselves, and yet they came
forward voluntarily to enlist. They were enlisted not by a
common sergeant but by a captain in her Majesty's service
and placards were distributed amongst them stating that
they would receive ss. or 6s. a-day. It was also stated to
them that they were to serve for two years, and if they
were required for a further period they were to serve for
two years longer by an order of council. Thirty of these
men had made a declaration to this effect on their oaths be-
fore a magistrate. Notwithstanding this agreement 130
of the men wore discharged after seven months' service
with a pound, which was all that would be given to a com-
mon soldier. Another body of 170 men had been sent from
Malta to England, and discharged at Bristol, having been
previously discharged at Bristol. Ho complained that
the Government had broken faith with these men, and that-
they had been treated in a one-sided way in the inquiry
that had been instituted.
Alderman SALOMONS said that he was lord mayor at
the time when these men were discharged, and when they
applied to him they appeared all to be respectable
artificers. They had been seduced from their employment
by representations which we're not realised, and he thought
their case was one of great hardship and called for redress.
Tt was true, according to the terms of the proclamation,
that the Government reserved the right of discharging
these men at the end of the war, but he contended that to
all intents and purposes they were to be considered as hav-
ing had a yearly engagement.
After a few worts from Colonel NORTH,
Mr. DEEDES expressed a hope that the Secretary of
War would give an explicit answer with respect to the
questions relating to the Militia.
Col. LINDSAY called the attention of the house to the
army promotion warrant of Oct., 1858, in respect to the
position of certain general officers who accepted
promotion on half-pay, in accordance with the
terms of the general order of the 25th day of
April, 1826, and are now receiving only the half pay of
their former regimental commissions. And also to the
medical warrant of the Ist day of October, 1858, in respect
to its retrospective action upon certain efficient medical
officers.
(LEFT SPEAKING,)