The New York herald., 1869-05-20

batialions, each being able to bring about zoo
be added seven battalions OF guards, making
total OF some 5000 men; 30 tnat
and ,,ne moi' Included, number 10000 or io4 oOO
Had we merely TO defend England, ireland and
Scotland from any foe this force would be more
member that there are in India alone nfty-three
bataions that fifteen are in Ireland, five at the Cape
| of Good Hope, seven In Canada, and three on the
West India Islands, besides others IN China, japan,
Australia and New Zealand II Will be seen that our
enectye strength is very small indeed and thar we
could not--I have the word OF an oficer on high
stan employment at headquarters for the fact
send a force OF 10000 troops away at tnis mo-
spare man more than 10000 il our very exist
ence as nation depended upon it.
Take, for instance, Canada. Let us suppose tnat
country TO be threatened with an invasion. OF
course, as was the case when the Trent ''dfculty"
occurred troops would be sent there post haste ana
very admirably equipped they would no doubt be.
But what would be their numbersS We might, at
the very utmost, spare six battaons OF 500 men
each and two regiments OF cavalry, each numbering
a couple OF batteries OF artillery, would make
up force of-taking the outside limit-6,O0O
men and TO do even this much we should nave 10
weaken our Irish garrisons far more than Is prudent
and TO refrain for couple OF seasons from sending
the usual reinlorcements or troops to indla where
the climate alone eXpends European soldiers lar
quicker than they can be replaced from England to
say nothing OF the continual petty wars III that lana,
by which we are ever losing men.
In Canada we have at the present moment one
regiment-less than 800 strong-of cavalry, at
Toronto; three battaons OF infantry at M0ntrea1
two battaons in New Brunswick, one at quebec,
one battalion at Toronto, and one at HALIFAX. Be-
sides these there are at Kingston the Canadian
Rifles, and between Montreal quebec, Toronto, Lon
don Canada West New Brunswick Halifax and
n ingston there two brigades OF artillery; in all
say 5000 men, to which we could send as reinforce
ment, at the very outside some 5000 additional.
What would all these be TO defend vast country
like Canada from an invading foe, whose basis OF
operations and whose depot Of provisions were close
at naQQI And remember that WQen we udu uOne
this much-when we had sent {, 900 or 10, 900
men to defend Canada-we should have done all we
could and would be like a man who had lived upon
his capital, instead OF upon the interest. We could
not spare-I doubt if we could even raise-a man
more. our nurseries, so to speak. OF soldiers are
exhausted In Ireland we used TO be able, twenty
years ago, 10 recruit more men than we wanted.
Now we can hardly get enough to ill the vacancies
in our weakened ranks There Is no use mlnclng
the matter, the Irish, as rule will not enlist now.
They can better themselves by emigration; they have
an underlined but still papable, hope that better
days are in store for them even If they remain at
home and their feeling Of having suffered wrong at
the hands Of England is stronger than ever. In
word, be the reason what IL may, for
one man among them that Will take service now
we used even dozen years ago to get twenty. And
in England II Is lar more difficult to get recruits than
IN Ireland. Men will enlist for the marines because
they the soldiers OF that corps returning home
after three four years cruise with large arrears
Of pay, and often not little prize money III their
pockets They will also take service in the guards,
for the guards never leave London or Its immediate
nelghborhood, unless some urgent foreign war calls
Tor their services Il speak here of the Foot Guards
for the Life Guards and Horse Guards-the 'H0use-
hold Brigade" as they are called-have never been
out OF England since 1Sl6. But then no man Is
enlisted in either the marines or the guards unless
he has good character, and the "loafers," who as
rule seek for service IN the army, are not overbur
dened with much OF that article. The real pth Of
the country, the great middle class that forms the
bulk OF every other army in Europe Is kept out
OF our service by this purchase system, by which
those only who can command certain sum OF
money are eligible either to commissions IN the army
or to promotion when they have got commissions.
oil
army-must form the subject Of another letter.
Deduct from our army, as It now stands, 1900 men
with that to reinforce Canada, and add TO our irish
garrisOns as many more, we should then have alb
sorbed all our resources, and we should not have
soldier to send 10 any other colony nor man with
which 10 replace the continual deaths among our
troops IN INDIA. In a word we should be at the
mercy OF any foe who liked to invade the Land.
Then comes the question as 10 leaders. With the
single exception OF Lord Strathnairn, better known
by his former title OF Sir Hugh Rose, we have not
single general officer who is capable of commanding
a large army in the field. or brave men we have
enough and TO spare. II pluck aud courage were
ali that was required OF leader our army would be
as well commanded as any In the world. But Lord
Strathnalrn born IN lS03 and at sixty-six years
OF age an oficer who has great deal OF actual
service In all countries, and has resided several
years in India, Is no longer young. No
doubt a campaign or two would make seve
raj good generais-that IS, 1t would turn men
who are at present without experience into
experienced soldiers, and teach them what was
required OF them in the field. But in these days
no government can afford the time In which to edu-
cate It's generals. war Is now always short. sharp
and decisive. Our English generals still believe In
the maXims and tactics OF the Crmea. Some even
look upon the Penlnsular experiences OF wellington
as their text book They might just as well adopt
the old flint musket as the weapon with which TO
arm their troops
Your readers will trust, be good enough to look
upon this letter as merely preface or preliminary
chapter TO the account am going to give them OF
our English army navy and fortified places. BY the
next mail hope TO enter into more details. Let me
conclude in order TO show that am not singular in
my opinion respecting the present condition OF our
army, by quoting the words OF Field Marshal Sir
John Burgoyne, an engineer oificer. who began his
military career slxty-two years ago. and who has
fought against almost every foe that England has
had during that period. Sir John Is justly re-
garded throughout Eng and as the greatest author
ity In all matters connected with his branch OF the
service, and here Is an extract from u letter he
wrote 10 the Times a few days ago.
fully believe that could to present with
great without being subjected to humia
which the high spirit of this country would
for moment, and OF which the consequence
pened in high command the OF
tities To provide for such event what is clearly
quirei means without unduy burdenng the
Try increasing Of defence when
that we should not be exposed 70 sudden danger
| The Comments Of the English Press the
Alabama Claims.
The Saturday ReuieU or the Sth devotes two
| column editorial to the relations between England
| and America at the present moment, reflected b,
| Mr.. Summers speech:-