New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-03-04
ARMY REFORM.

LONDON Feb. 17-Whatever be the ultimate fate
of Mr.. Cardwell's scheme of army reorganization
there can be no doubt it has served its immaculate
purpose 1t is all but universally accepted as sat
sfactOry response TO the demand that has grown out
of the present panic for a really efficient force
Whether the Government has any hearty desire 20
make England into great military nation may DC
doubted but there can be doubt at all that IT de-
sres to keep in Office and that it saw plainly that IL
could not keep in Office unless il did something 10
reform and strengthen the army The popular be-
liefin Mr. Cardwells incapacity threatened Storm
The pressure from all sides for six months past mas
been unremittng. Either Mr. Cardwell must make
up his mind to do something or he must 90. He was
put into Office to retrench he left in to make
new army. The first task he accomplished with un-
doubted success. The second he declares his willing
ness to undertake and on Thursday night he
preached his new scheme in speech of two hours
of which it may fairly be said that it surprised and
satisfied the House in equal measure.
The task set him might have dauntcd holder
man. BY universal consent the army wanted men,
wanted material, and wanted reorganization. The
regular forces in England WERE on the LIST August,
| 1870, $4,000 men, with reserve of $1,000; in all
10000. There exist also considerable forces Of
militia and volunteers on paper, but for lack Of
organization, discipline, and drill, probably not
much more useful thanthe National Guards of Paris.
Mr.. Cardwell proposes to increase the numbers so
that there shall be- within the United Kingdom and
not reckoning those employed on foreign service,
$4,000 regulars, with two armies of reserve amount
ing to $1,000 He proposes further to convert the
militia into an effective force, capable of being put
into the field in conjunction with the regulars and
numbering $4,000 men. Adding 1900 yeOmanry
we get total of 100000 men, volunteers not in
| cluded.
To make the regular army effective, the Purchase
| system is to be abolished. If this were the only
reform Mr. Cardwell proposed, it would justify his
claim to be considered an energetic and enlightened
| Minister. i suppose everybody knows in general
way what the Purchase system is-a system which
officers the British army by giving commissions not
to the most experienced the most capable, but to
the richest. Impossible TO defend such system one
would say; yet defended it has been and is with
vigor such as vested interests always enlist in their
service. 1t is not the money value of the commits
sions which has kept the Purchase system alive thus
far. Nobody ever proposed to abolish the system
without repayng the value of the commissions of
officers who should be retired But there is one
thing in England stronger than money, and that is
CASTE The army was differed and could be differed
only by rich men. They made it exclusive-made
it a badge of respectability; and to be an
officer was to be a member of O kind
of club for the privileges of which you paid
dearly. So instead of considering themselves public
servants. the officers looked upon their commissions
as things they had bought and paid for, and had
right TO enjoy, and in the holding of which they
might pass life of elegant leisure. If an officer
knew the mere A. b, of his profession, the routine
of the baTTack and the battle-ground, it was all
that be thought could be asked of him. Except in
the special corps the Engineers, for instance, in
=, i Hmm
like scientific knowledge could be expected. In
these days of scientific warfare, what could be
hoped for from an army thus ofliceredl Obviously
nothing but courage, in which it never was de-
fcient. The CTimea showed what its organization
was worth. Many an instance less scale and
| nearer home showed it. 1t hardly possible to
march regiment from AldershOt to London with
out starving it, or killing man or two Neverthe-
less as was natural the opinion of the officers was
all in favor Of purchase, and the opinion of the Off
GERS represents directly and indirectly amount of
social influence which | wonder Mr.. Cardwel has
found the courage to defy. 1t is certain no chief
of great force had ever to do an act
more unpopular with those under him than Mr..
Cardwel proposes. 1t is likely to be opposed stiiiy,
since the military element in the House itself is
strong even numerically. forget how many army
officers there are, but there are good many, and
whose support they have ordinarily been able to
depend on, you arrive at very formidable body.
The Government backed by an overwhelming public
opinion, will undoubtedly carry its point, but it will
be called on for every kind of concession, pecunary
and other, which the wit of man-that is, of the
military man-can devise i'll order to make the
change easy for him and hard for the public. Mr.
Cardwell reckons that it will cost fSOOOOOO to buy
up all the commissions. He will be lucky if he gets
off for that sum- limited even the operation of his
act will be by the provision which restricts the
yearly purchase to the present average of retirement
OF course such an operation will take time and
good deal of time The change does not come into
force at once. date will be fixed after which no
new commissions can be bought, After that date
commissions will be given partly to successful can
didates in competitive examination, partly to mil
tia officers of certain training and partly to nom
commissioned officers in the regular army.
simultaneously with the abolition of purchase
comes the overthrow of the power of offering the
militia, now exercised by the Lord-Lieutenants Of
counties; reform essential to the efficiency Of
the militia as the abolition of purchase to the army.
will not undertake to state the particulars of the
new system by which it is hoped to make something
ont of the militia Far less boldness is to be seen
here There is no more to be compulsory service
| than before, nor do l understand what hope Mr..
Cardwel can have of getting into serviceabe condi
ton militia which is not to be drilled more than %
days iii year. AS recruits. indeed, tie militia are
to be drilled with the regulars but what advantage
they may thus gain after all be only trining 1t
Is absurd to speak of a system like this as capable
of producing force comparable to the Prussians.
Count Moltke considered that he had saved his
army when he successfully resisted the Parliament
tary effort to cut down the years of compulsory ser
vice with the standards from three years to two.
In other words the greatest living military author
ty is of opinion that you make soldiers in three
| vears but cannot mAke them In twn aud n rnn In