The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1882-07-25
WEEKLY BAZOO.
GLAND'SMILITARYORGAN
IZATION.

There is one department OF MIR.
Gladstone's administration which has
not been exposed to the malevolent
criticism of bis political foes. That is
the War Office. Mr.. Childers has not
made himself conspicuous in the de-
bates of the three Irish sessions, but he
has been one of the most industrious
members of the Cabinet. For three
years be has kept one object constant
ly in view. He has devoted his ad-
illustrative skill to the organization
of small army which would be dis
patched for active service in any
quarter of the world without confusion
or delay. In presenting the estimates
for bis department last March he an
nounced that he had made arrange
menb whereby eighteen hattalions of
infantry, three battalions Of the
Guards and the requisite proportion
of cavalry and artillery could Re kept
at their full war strength, so as to be
ready to move at short notice. This
gave him an available corps Of 25, 900
men for any emergency which might
arise; and for larger operations, when
the reserve should be called out, he
counted upon having at least 10000
men ready for service within six weeks.
The emergency has found him as good
as his word. When the troops were
needed they were at hand. The War
Office was not forced to consolidate
regiments nor to send raw recruits to
the military depots. The officials
were not taken by surprise, but were
prepared to dispatch their little army
without serious delay. The supplies
were promptly furnished, the troop
ships were close ct hand, and there
was order everywhere. If $4,000
men are not already in Egypt or dis
tributed among the Mediterranean
posts, it is because the government
has not required so large a force or
such precipitate haste and there is no
reason to doubt that a second corps
can be speedily prepared for service,
and another in Bombay.
These results may seem meagre in
comparison with the barrack-musters
of the great military camps on the
continent. but they are highly credit
able to the British War Office. The
French army is nominally the largest
in Europe, but it was only after pro-
longed delays and conspicuous mis-
management that an effective force
could be organized for service in Tunis,
and when there was urgent need OF re-
Inducements the War Office was utter
" demoralized. The Russian cam
paigns in Armenia and Bulgaria were
disastrous at the outset simply because
the armies were on paper, but not in
the field, Melikoff being given 100, 600
men when he required 10000 for
the work before him, and the force
which after inexplicable delay finally
crossed the Danube being at least
125, 900 men below its reputed
strength. Now Great Britain with
its island fortress which can only be
asssiled when its feet is destroyed,
does not attempt to vie with
he standing armies of the continent.
Its military resources are not to be
for Sir Garnet Welsely has
mputed that there are from 1885,
900 to $50, 900 trained men available
for q campaign, apart from the Medi-
erraneau garrisons, the militia. the
volunteers and the second-class re-
erve. But this is not force which
nters into the ordinary calculations of
he war Office. With a comparative
' small army, England stands out
ide the circle of armed camps on the
continent, and is practically unarmed.
in supreme nom ent of
anger upon the patriotism and self
of its people. But while it