Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1855-11-30
Great Britain as a Mllltary Power.

It appears to us great mistake TO assert that
Great Britain has fallen a military power from
the simple reason that she never has been of the
first class She has never been able to keep on foot
armies Of sufficient force to contend single-handed
with aDy respectable military nation on the conf
nent. At the commencement of the last war, or,
more properly speaking, wars arising out of the
French revolution, she played even more secondary
part and her attempts at armies were far more insg-
nifcant than those sent out to the Crimea Even at
the close of Napoleons career when she to her
highest point, she was unable to muster into the
army with which Wellington fought the battle of
Waterloo more than thirty -four or thrty-fve thou
sand men-the balance were subsidized mercenaries;
and last the Prussian army under Blucher finished
the matter by rendering rally or Recommendation
of the French forces impossible. All the force that
England had staked upon that single issue, and
was incapable of another effort. In The war of the
American revolution it cannot be forgotten that she
had to hire the troops of small German principally.
What gave her strength and influence In the combl-
nations against Napoleon, was in some measure her
navy, but still more her money power, which ena.
bled the banded despots put their hordes in motion
The effective army in the Crimea is nearly up to
the highest mark of any that Wellington commanded
in the Peninsula when, however, he was assisted by
q whole population and formidable guerilla force.
England, therefore, has not fallen from the position
of first. rate military power-for that she never was
in reality-certainly not since the abolition of the
feudal system, and the very general employment OF
standing armies. When, in former times, under the
Edwards and Henrys, she showed herself on the
continent the apparent superior of France, the
Kings of England were also Dukes of Normandy, and
held other large continental possessions while the
King of France account of intestine divisions, was
scarcely equal in power to many of the mobiles over
whom he held nominal supremacy. AS soon, how
evel, as France became again consolidated king
dom, the English rapidly lost every foot-hold save
Calais, and that went with the rest during the reign
of Mary, commonly known as " Bloody Mary" the
predecessor of Elizabeth who, by the way, was
about as bloody as her elder sister.
By virtue of her navy and her wealth she mus
continue to be great power--an important element
in any She can cripple the resources of ar
opponent and strengthen the hands of friend. She
has much endurance, and has, so far, been able tC
preserve herself exempt from any retaliation upor
her own soil but she has loaded herself with debt
and by her very insular position, which has pre-
SerVeU HeF ITOn lHFdsIOh' ucE people Lave ueCout
unmilitary-not unwarike, for when once started a
ii they make as good soldiers the world can pro
duce Still, although in the aggregate, taking heI
on the whole, as it were, she is great power. She
is not now-never has been, and never will be q
great military power She did raise large armies in
proportion TO her population during the days wher
the feuda system existed, and military service was
a matter of compulsion. That has passed away, ant
no real substitute has arisen TO take its place Mere
voluntary enlistment Goes not The nations the
continent of Europe, although they too have dis.
pensed with much of the rigor of feudalty, have YET
retained it's most effective feature military or
ganization, namely: definite and compulsory service
In France, conscliption in Prussia, the thing
under different form. In Austria, Russia, and
elsewhere, system of the same character prevails
In England it does nn and cannot now be resoret
to openly for raising soldiers although it was don.
avowedly during the Napoleonic period in regard tt
sailors, who captured by press gangs and thus
on board ships without form ceremony.