The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-06-10

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DsFtNc.s oS ENGLAND AGAINST INVASION
IUNTEEg AND TARGET COMPANIES. see that
circular has been issucs by the English War
Office intoxicating the necessity of target prac-
tice by volunteer companies. With this view,
the circular says that sites Tor rifle practice shoid
be established in every locality where companies
or bodies Of ri6emen are formed. 1t il surpris-
ing that this idea should not have occurred to
the heads Of the War Department when the mill
tia of the United Kingdom was frat called out,
about two years since. There is scarcely M
ton which Is less acquainted with the use Of fire.
arms than the English, and the notion Of placing
muskets in their hands without teaching them
how to use them was 50 manifestly absurd that
at the time earnest representations were made on
the subject. The authorities at the War Depart
ment are as slow to entertain Innovations as are
their brethren of the Circumlocution Office
and it is only now, when the probability
of an invasion is staring them In the face
that they are taking steps to secure efficiency in
the volunteer force. With characteristic libe-
ralty they undertake to serve out targets at cost
price, and also to furnish an annual allowance OF
pssctice and exercise ammunition at the rate Of
ninety rounds Of ball and sixty OF blank car
fridge for each trained volunteer, and lilo ball
and twenty blank for each recruit. AS the Lon
don Times pertlnently observes, ii Is not probable
that English riaemen win learn much at the rate
of three shots week, halfbeing without bullets.
The reluctance with which English administrar
tions have always resorted to the arming Of the
militia Is well known. They have had q few ex-
periences in this way which have rendered them
that these occurred in times when bad govern
ment had driven the people to desperation. In
more enlightened age, when power can only
be sustained in constitutional country by the
influence of public opinion, there is no necessity
for such caution. A government that Is afraid to
put arms in the hands Of its people for
purposes of selfdefence has 10 hold upon their
support, and is therefore unit to exist. Our
English cousins have been some time finding out
the truth of the axiom. 1t is we'll for them thas
they have at last made the discovery, for times
are approaching when its value will be appre-
ciated.
The introduction of steam in the navies Of the
world is fast doing away with the maritime SUI
premacy Of England. Reduced in this respect to
level with her great military neisabors, she
must look to other means Of protection. She can
never maintain a standing army sufficiently
large to protect her coasts, aud she will there
fore have to rely mainly on the patriotism of
her militia In point of bravery and physical
endurance these are equal to the men OF any
other nation but in the use of firearms there are
few to whom they are not inferior. This dedcien-
cy has to be remedied in order to give to Great
Britain the spirit of selcreliancc which
will enable her to despise invasion.
The movement get on foot by the government for
the formation Of target companies is a step taken
in the right direction. The conditions under
which it is made will, however, have to be i'm
proved upon. This can be done by the iberality
Of the men themselves, as is the case here. Our
companies, which are composed for the most part
of mechanics and day laborers, receive no aid
from the State, as the militia do, but they never
theless constitute the great arm Of strength upon
which the country will have to rely in the hour
| Of danger. They are, generally speaking, good
marksmeu, which is more than can be said Of the
commissioned force who seldom. practice at the
target.
We are glad to sec the English appropriating
the ideas which have given strength to and con-
solidated our Institutions. In the course of time
they may be disposed to borrow something more
oftheir spirit and essence.