The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-04-03
THE BRITISH MILITARY FORCES.
What Forces Great Britain Can Firing
Into the Field In the Event
of war.

! The military forces of Great Britain as now
organized are composed of ~ the standing
army ~ the first class army and militia To-
serve, 81 the militia, ~ the volunteers and ~
or standing army about $4,000 strong) cor
responds in organization and duties with that
OF the smaller regular army in this country.
The first class army and militia reserve have
no counterpart in the American system.
| They are composed respectively of men who
have served three years or Whereabouts in the
regular army and thu militia. These men
now form part OF the civil population, but as
soon as Parliament sanctions the royal order,
they will be expected to repair to the brigade
depOtS at which they are enrolled.
| The militia $4,000 strong corresponds in
some respects to the National Guard Of New
York, but the discipline is nearly as stringent
as in the regular army. The militia is only
sent out of the United Kingdom. The mem
bers of this branch of the service are paid a
small sum annually. The volunteers $50 900
strong) correspond more closely to the State
troops in this country than the militia. The
regiments are composed mainly Of young
men engaged In business occupations, and are
commanded by officers selected by themselves
and approved by the government.
The second class army reserve 10000
strong) is composed of old pensioners, who
are now Off duty, but are expected to repair
to military depots and serve when called out.
In a recent article on the British army Sir
Garnet Wolseley gives interesting Informal
ton which throws light on the contemplated
measures OF the government. According to
our existing military system, he SAYS, upon
war being declared, the militia is called out,
and hands over it's reserve at once to the line,
who together with our first class army re-
serve, would give US about 1900 good men to
bring up our line battalions to war strength.
Our second class army reserve consisting of
old soldiers, although past the prime of life,
would supply lis with about $1,000 bayonets
quite fit for garrison duty The four compa-
MES OF regular infantry now at each of the
seventy brigade depots would at once be
formed into cadres of seventy depot battal-
ions, and begin recruiting locally. To them
would he dispatched all the men who last year
joined the battalons it is intended to engage
in active service"
Regarding the forces which England may
call into requisition, Sir Garnet Wolseley
makes an interesting statement: cat no pre-
vious period" he says, ''of our history have
we ever been so strong, in a military sense,
as at present. In 1854 we were very weak in
field artillery; the military force in these
no reserve whatever beyond some pensioners,
who were too old for field service. Were war
declared tomorrow, about 100000 drilled men
would fall into line If required, supported by
372 fleIG guns, manned and horsed by the
Royal Artillery. That number would roughly
be made up as follows:
Standing armv lat hume) ............ $4,000
Army and militia reserve ....... 10000
Militia 5000
Volunteers 1870. 200
Second class army reserve ~ 10000
1oIai. '....................... -414,000