The New York herald., 1871-02-06
THE BRITISH ARMY.
Government Plan OF Reform
and Reinforcement.
Commissions Purchase Abolition and q
Voluntary Enlistment.
The Condition for War as ExpOunded by DR..
Russell and In the Press.
TELEGRAM TO THE NEW YORK HERALD.


TELEGRAM TO THE NEW YORK HERALD.
LONDON, Feb s, 1871.
The subject Of reform OF the system OF manage
ment and command OF the British army attracts
more attention daily, particularly as the moment
for the assemblage of Parliament approaches. The
question OF the recruitment OF the army IN future is
also canvassed, and with considerable anxiety in
political circles.
The London Obserre1-a well informed source
reports that the government scheme Tor increasing
the efficiency OF the army Is more comprehensive
than has been supposed. The purchase Of commits
sions system viii be completely abolished and vol
untary enlistment be encouraged by the offer OF in
creased inducements in the shape Of bounty and
promotion. The supreme military direction will
be entrusted to board similar to that OF the Adm-
rally.
The resignation of the Duke OF Cambridge as
Commander-in-Chief of the army Is probable
Prussiau Military Opinion OF Englaud's Army
Necessity.
Englands present movement towards reform or
her present system or command OF the army and
for the reinforcement Of that arm OF the service Is
coincident with the rapid approach OF Prussia
toward supreme military control on the Continent
OF Europe. N may be, indeed. contingent on this
crisis In the history OF the nco-Prussian war;
| We find that the French and Prussan press have
been engaged just lately in anayzing the war force
and power OF Great Britain, and tna too no very
| complimentary terms.
| Mr. Russell, writing to the London Times in the
! early days OF the present year, says:-
The Hontteur OF Versailles publishes an article on
the military organization oi England, which IS
curious and interesting. enclose 1t to you. The
Mo,ateur expresses the universal opinion here when
II says the military system OF ENGLAND, view of
future complications, permits her 10 assume only
one attitude" What is it9 Lsten-"teIle de
Ftfdcen,e'I."
The article goes on to say
Great Britain has not escaped the influence OF
events whi h have already SO seriously modified in
ternatonal relations on the Continent. In order to
understand the change which mas occurred in the
tendencies OF the most systematically pacific
nation IN Europe, II is sulncleGt TO observe
seems destined to pla In the ensuing Par
llamentary session. The newspapers are fun Of
of England aud OF the dangers which menace her.
All this agitation reveals the existence OF ieelng OF
uneaslness long unknown in England II ls not now
question OF III of panic aud unreasoning terror,
as in 1850 but OF conviction slowly
matured 10 which the nation only yields
England. it Is said, is so situated as in many re-
spects to invite attack. The immense extent Of It's
rivalry which result from It's immediate contact
with so many different nations constitute many
elements OF insecurity, while the insuiiiclency OF
Its military organization makes it daily lose part
OF the prestige which 1t TO the energy or FORE
sight OF its statesmen during the first half of the
present century. Thus politicians OF all shades OF
opinion are devot1ng themselves, with rare unan-
1ty to the quest OF measures adapted to guarantee
the security the country without disturbing too Sc
rlously the existing social system. The English know
well that mtarism Is little compatible with COM
mercia prosperity and they try TO avoid as long as
possible the necessity OF establishing among them the
military institutions OF Prussa but, on the other
hand, they are too practical not to perceive that
q fuck tl fha
| dinon OF the material development Of a nation.
Here arises the great difficulty, that of creating
! effective system OF defence while respecting the
traditions OF personal liberty 50 dear to the English,
and without imposing on the cltilens, individually
English, In short wish for an army capable Of
rcpelling an invasion without having re-
sensibly increasing the war expenditure. Among ing
| the statesmen who have discussed this ques.
ton, some, like Lord RUSSELL admit that England IS
morally isolated. and even that the majority OF
nations regard her with certain disrust and envy
In spite OF thus not very reassuring way Of viewing
the external relations Of Great Britain, and though
| admitting the possibility Of maritime war which
would obiige England to employ the larger part
remarkable optimism in advising the government
| to embody 100000 militia, in order to render
| says, these militia would be an admirable army.
The experience OF France. since 1t has been obliged
10 connde It's defence to mproyised armies, is GER
| fdence As for the majority OF the organs OF the
London press, they agree with Lord Russell; but
4 ItiPS
admits that the stability Of the political system Of
| Europe is seriously compromised, and that the
! invasions regarded BY Mr.. Golden as a
| ridiculous anachronism are now the order OF the
day; but IT appears TO doubt the efficacy OF the
means proposed BY LORD Russell. The city journal
| points out that there would no longer
be question of repulsing an Invasion OF
a. 600 men, the number at which the Duke
| Of wellington estimated the hostile army which
| might land IN England but perhaps Of 100 600 men.
the English army is not the only important point Of
| the problem which has to be considered. The
| effectiveness OF an army does not depend eXclu-
sivey on the number Of soldiers; 1t requires we'll
| organized artillery, means OF transport, complete
| medical service and whole system capable OF
| meeting the exigencles Of modern warfare. What
! ls in this respect the situa ion OF the English
armyf To CHE only one essential Defect
| It's field artillery is very insufficient. The
| regular army, WITH the 100000 militia
| require 450 guns, and Tor the moment, says the
| Times we have not half tnat number. The other
branches OF the service are In the same state, which
| renders the augmentation proposed by Lord Russell
toerably ilusory. WHAT, however, makes the Times
uneasy Is not so much the relatively restricted
Der OF regular soldiers whom England could op-
pose to an invasion the almost entire absence OF
| All army OF reserve The city journal regards the
forces at present available sufficient under
| ordinary circumstances If The 25O,0O0 volun.
| the Prussian landwehr but there is a warrant for
| supposng that these forces would easily accept the
! role which the Times would desire to give them.
The volunteers particularly are only collection OF
to impose the duties and strict discipline Of the citi-
! zen soldiers OF Prussia. Without military
reorganization 1t Is perfectly Idle to discuss the
| tude which England should take In view oil future
| Continental complications.
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