The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1890-03-08
THE BRITISH ARMY.
EngIand's Military Power. and Why She
Needs a Great Statesman.


Needs Great Statesman.
The present establishment of the
British army is as follows: cavalry, 49,
094; infantry, 140, 27S; artillery, S5, 72S; en-
gineers, 1905; colonial troops, 1859; and
departmental corps, 6, 113; This gives
total of gil, 2O7 of all ranks. The First
Class Army Reserve numbers 81. 5S4 men,
which, added to this total, gives grand
total for Cur active army of, say, in round
numbers, 260, 900 men. The number of
horses and mules-officer's chargers not
proportion are mules. The law forbids
us ever to exceed by one man or horse
at any time throughout the year the es-
tablishment fixed annually by Parlia-
ment; so, with an army scattered all over
the world, it is practically impossible to
keep it actually up to that fixed num-
Der. As matter of fact, we are gener-
ally now about one thousand under our
establishment. Our number of field
guns on peace establishment is 600, to
which Sc guns would be added upon the
mobilization of the army.
OF this army 70, 4OS British soldiers,
1O,S36 horses, and 31S guns are in India;
30, 500 men and 905 horses are abroad
elsewhere; the balance being at home.
In addition to this, we have an Indian
regular army of 21,70O native cavalry,
100, 900 native infantry, and 1000 native
artillery, all under the command of !, All
British officers. With the exception Of
As mounted guns, all the artillery in In
dia is now English. From these figures
it will be seen that of the army with
which we hold India, not more than sc
per cent. are English, whilst Ga per cent.
are natives.
This article deals only with our reg
ular army, but still it would be absurd to
make no allusion in it to the yeomanry,
militia and volunteer forces. l shall
not attempt any description of them, but
will content myself with giving their
numbers. The actual strength-all
ranks included-of the military forces
of the crown on the 1st July, 1883, was:
REGULAR ARMY.
At home Jos 2SS
Abroad Observation-Disclosures, l0l, $50
Native army of India. Observation-Disclosures. 1a, 100
RESERVE FOR REGULAR ARMY.
First Glass Army Reserve. ............... 1880
Second Glass Army Reserve. ............ 2,922
Militia Reserve. Observation-Disclosures. 29,7S6
Yeomanry cavalry. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 1926
Militia, exclusive of Militia Reserve. 80, 759
Volunteers NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 227, S21
Grand total of all ranks. 757, sos
Besides the numbers here given there
are about 100000 men who have been
trained as volunteers, one quarter of
whom, it is calculated, would be avail
able for the defence of the country if the
emergency were great. do not profess
to enter upon the strength of the militia
ry forces maintained by Canada, Austria
liza and our other colonies, but they are
of great Importance. Their Importance
will be fully recognized by the world
whenever God in His mercy is pleased
to send us statesman wise enough
and great enough to federate and con-
solidate into one united British Empire
all the many lands and provinces which
acknowledge Queen Victoria as theirsov-
ereign.-General Viscount Wolseley, X.
p etc in Harner'S MAGAZINE