The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1885-03-07
THE BRITISH ARMY.
Its Strength and ststions-Disposition of
$4,000 Mem

British troops are now stationed, with
their approximate force in garrison and
on active service, have just been pre-
pared from official sources. The last
returns showed, it is understood, an
effective strength of about 1872. 900 of all
afms-viz: thirty-one regiments of cav
airy, twenty-four batteries Of roval
horse artillery, seveney-six batteries OF
field artillery, ninety-six batteries OF
garrison artillery, seventy-fwo regiments
of infantry Tor l4S battalions), two di-
visions, one troop, and forty companies
! OF engineers, besides cOmmissariat and
transports, medical staff corps. etc.
Dealing first with the home commands,
it appears that the northern command,
the largest in the Kingdom, which in
cludes nearly 10000 volunteers. besides
yeomanry and militia, has two regi-
ments of regular cavalry, two divisions
of the coast brigade, and six batteries
of field artillery. besides depots, and
five battalions of infantry. The eastern
| command major General White, G.. b. J
with headquarters at Colchester, has
one cavalry regiment and two de-
pots of that arm, three batteries
and depot of artillery, a section
of the commissariat and transport
corps, and three infantry battalions
The western command (Maior-General
Sayer, c. 3D. has in proportion to
others large force of artillery-two
batteries of horse, three of field, and
seven of garrison-besides a division of
the coast brigade and depots, a COM
| pany of the commissariat and transport
corps, and four battalions of infantry.
| The southern command has altogether
| one division and twelve batteries of
artillery, two companies and section
OF engineers, section of commissariat
| and transport corps, and six battalions
| OF infantry The force of the Chatham
| district consists of eleven companies of
engineers, division and five batteries
OF artillery, one company of the COM
mlssariat and transport corps, and two
battalions of infantry. In the south
eastern command there are two regi-
| ments of cavalry and nine depots
Canterbury one division and seven
batteries of artillery, company each of
engineers and of the commissariat and
transport corps, and four battalions of
the line. The home-district command
has three regiments of household cavalry
| and one of cavalry of the line, battery
OF royal horse, and division of coast
brigade artillery, one company each of
engineers and of the commissariat and
transport corps, and six battalions of
the guards. AT Woolwich the force is
made up of large body of artillery,
two batteries of horse, besides depots
and the riding establishments, and
seven batteries of field and garrison.
The Aldershot command, which COM
pletes those of England and Wales, has
three regiments of cavalry, eight bat
teries of artillery division. troop, and
depot of royal engineers, three com
panies and two depots of the commits
sariat and transport corps, and seven
line battalions.
Taken altogether there are thus in
the nine military districts of England
and Wales twelve regiments of cavalry,
sixty-five batteries and seven divisions of
artillery, division, troop, and fourteen
companies of engineers, about dozen
companies of the commissariat and
transport corps, and thirty-eight bat
talions of infantry or about sixty thou
sand of all ranks.
The average strength of the army in
Scotland was last year only little over
three thousand. and there is reason to
believe that Major General Macdonald's
North British command does not now
even come up to that number, the force
being represented by one cavalry regi-
iment, one battery, and division of ar
tillery, and two infantry battalions.
In the three military districts of Ire
land, commanded respectively by Major
General Knight, Major General Lord
Clarina. and Major General Young. the
force shows a decrease in strength COM
pared with last year, when the average
was about twenty-four thousand. The
force now distributed over the island
comprises six regiments of cavalry,
thirteen batteries and two divisions of
artillery, two companies of engineers,
four of commissariat and transport
corps, and twenty-siX infantry bat
talions, or four battalions less than last
year.
The channel islands possess thrse
batteries of artillery and two battalions
of infantry, about two thousand officers
and men. India absorbs Il very large
portion of the British army, nearly
sixty-nine thousand of all arms-viz.,
Bengal, seven regiments of cavalry,
forty-twO batteries of artillery, COM
pany of engineers, and thirty-one
battalions of infantry; Madras, two
cavalry corps, sixteen batteries of artl-
lery, a company of engineers and nine
battalions of infantry; Bombay, one
cavalry corps, nineteen batteries of
artillery, a company of engineers, and
nine battalions of infantry; total caval-
ry, ten corps; artillery, seventy-seven
batteries; engineers, three companies;
infantry, forty-nine battalions.
In the West Indies England has |
couple of batteries of garrison artillery, |
and, besides a line battalion, some |
colonial corps. Canada has three bat |
teres, company and section of engi- |
neers, and line battalion; and |
Bermuda two batteries, five engineer
companies, and battalion of infantry. |
Malta has seven batteries of British |
artillery, two companies of engineers, |
four line battalions and the fencible ar
tillery; and Gibraltar. seven batteries, |
four engineer companies and four line
battalions; while Cyprus is garrisoned
by the headquarters of the First West
Kent and company of engineers.
Irrespective of the force of irrcgulars
in England for special
service in Bechuanaland there are at
the cape and Natal two cavalry corps
(the Sixth dragons and the Thirteenth
hussars), four batteries of artillery, two
companies and section of engineers,
nearly five battalions of infantry and
some attachments of the commissariat
and transport corps. At st. Helena