The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-05-14
Reforms in the English Army.

Reforms in the English Army.
Public opinion in England betrays a
growing discomfort with the attitude Of
indifference TO European politics which
has marked the national policy since the
Crimcnn war. Indifference can be justi-
fed only by involability. aud England is
beginning to question the grounds of her
supposed security. In view OF her posi-
BILE ENHANCEMENT In future continental
complications, 1t is interesting to note how
signally her fighting strength has been
augmented within the last Ave years.
Up to the close of the Franco -Prussian
war the army commanded by the Duke OF
Cambridge remained, with slight modin-
cations, what IL had been under the Duke
OF Cumberland more than q century be-
fore. 1t was cramped by antiquated ira
ditions aud dislocated by dual admins
tration. Commissions were acquired by
| purchase; few officers had received techni-
cal instruction; and all. by their fortune,
social status, and education, were placed al
| an immense distance from The rank and
file. In point of numbers the regular
| forces were so weak that after deductions
for garrison duty, and for service in India.
| the colonies, and Ireland. nothing was left
TO withstand invasion. Scarcely any pro-
vision existed to Gil the gaps made by war.
The militia retained only the shadow OF
organization, aud In no event could be or
dered beyond the limits of the kingdom.
The volunteers, who had been called forth
| by the groundless panic OF 1858, were,
in point of discipline and efficiency, de-
III ..l1 t,,f al
the State of New York.
Moreover, Parliament, swaved by opti-
mists OF the Manchester peace school, had
persistently refused to fortfy the coasts,
| TO renew equipments, or revise tactics, or
replenish the arsenals and magazines. The
| Crimean hasco had exposed extensive de-
hcienries, but the popular Judgment as
crbed the check before Sevastopol to the
Incompetence of the supernnnuatod gen
| erals In command. The notion OF war
dominant in the public mind was that OF q
| contest prolonged through years. and II
was perhaps natural to suppose that the
resources OF English manufactures might
easily retrieve lost time when crisis
should arrive. On a sudden. however,
Germany showed herself able to launch
1
men, armed ,victualled and equipped within
a fortnight after declaration OF war
British confidence received wholesome
shock, and the ancient system of inca
pacity, oircumlocution, and delay was sum-
marily repudiated.
| The CALDWELL bill introduced In the
spring Of 1877 made an end of old tradi-
tons, and broke ground for a substan tial
revolution in the effectiveness of the Brit
ish forces. Itproposed to abolish commits
| sions by purchase, 10 transfer TO the crown
the appointing OF militia officers, that these
| might share the rights and duties OF their
confreres in the regular army, and further,
| TO subject both militia aud volun GERS to
the military code whenever thoy were
| assembled for instruction or manCpuvres
With the view Of constituting a useful re-
serve, the Secretary for War was author
lied to discharge enlisted men before the
end of their term on condition Of rejoin-
ing their regiment at the first CALL Volun-
| tary recruitment was to be maintained for
the militia rs well as for the regular forces,
except that for the former branch of the
service the ministry might have recourse
| TO CONSUMPTION In case of extreme peril.
| None of these innovations provoked vio-
lent opposition except that respecting the
| purchase of commissions, which, II will be
rem tmbered. after rejection by the Peers
was eliminated from the bill and decreed
by royal prerogative. The CALDWELL bill
was supplemented by others which assured
an elaborate system of coast defences, Il
thorough reorganization of the militia, II
| notable enlargement OF The regular army,
| and carefully digested scheme of mObi-
iEation. The home forces are now distrib-
| utcd in eight corps assigned to permanent
quarters ut decisive strategic points, and
including regulars, militia, and volunteers
should ultimately aggregate three hun
dred and fifty thousand men. AL
ready more than half that number has
been organized and received tolerable
degree of discipline. The regular army,
| which constitutes the nucleus and the
model, musters Mt present nearly two hun
dred thousand men, of whom ninety thou
sand are retained for service In Great
| Britain. The Inconvenience inherent in
| u dual administration are in process Of
correction, the War Office steadily en-
croaching on the limited authority which
the Horse Guards yet preserve. For the
| first time in the history of England, the
! commissariat has been placed on an effect
! i've footing. Equipments and army
| stores, munitions and materials of wac
have been amassed in enormous quanti-
Vss. IN o word, sagacity and colossal OUT