The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-03-03
|-.177-
BRITISH ARMY FIGURES

pretty penny every year. There arc few
Of US whose attention has not been
called to the bloated ornaments of con
t~inental Europe, and who have not con
graduated ourselves on the freedom we
enjoy from the blighting taxation such q
course Of policy necessltates. But it is
perfectly safe to say that many we'll in
formed people will learn with surprise
that British army expenditure each year
exceeds that of either Germany or
France. The figures are Sir Charles
Dilke's, and Dixie is a recognized Euro
pean authority on such matters. Britain
spends each year on her army s%lo,oOO,Ooo
more than Germany does, and the cost
of the French army to the French peo-
pie falls behind the British figures by
no less a sum than S3I,5N,0O0. In this
present year of grace, the British tax
payer will have the felicity of contribut-
ing Sl7o,oo0,oO0 for the land defense of
the empire ON which the sun is said
never to set. British colonies spend for
themselves about 81, 100000, and besides
contribute generously toward the I'M
perial forces. A total expenditure IS
thus reached Of G35,5 100000; against
which we may set down f33,500,o0O for
Germany, and E2S,Ooo,O0O for France.
Sir Charles bikes frank criticisms of
the result of this remarkable outlay can
scarcely be tiattering to the soul of the
British taxpayer. Within twenty-one
days after the issue of a general mobili-
cation order, either France or Germany
could have in the field and thoroughly
equipped a force of over 100000 men,
with an artillery strength of between
5000 and 1900 guns, and behind this
tremendous force a garrison and terri.
torial army in reserve. Britain, under
similar circumstances, could push for
ward a force of $4,000 men; and, as for
guns, the Germans added as much artil-
lery to their field strength in October
last as Britain has in the length
and breadth of her possessions. OF a
nominal total of 600 guns all told, not
nor than 800 can be placed in the field.
Such a startling exposure OF weakness
both in men and wal material must, we
should imagine, be a bitter enough pill
for the Britisher to swallow, but the
frank critic proceeds in a manner even
more caustic and scathing. The men
who compose the forces of France or
Germany are, he AYERS, pretty much
the same all through" The average
standard Is certainly not SO high as that
of some of the British crack regiments,
but the quality is uniform through the
services. A more heterogeneous muster
roll can scarcely be imagined than that
of the British army. Quality, in some
cases high, is in most simply "deplora-
BILE" or the total available force of
$4,000 men, Sir Charles rates 10000
only as high class, and ever they in some
particulars are deficient. The 5000
of the first class army re-
serve are composed of excellent ma
terial, but their opportunities for drill
are intermittent and insufficient. The
second class army reserve of 1000
men is 'hardly worth counting" A
force of 10000 men is severely
handicapped by a deficiency of officers.
There are GS,0OO good native troops in
India, $4,000 bad. Twenty-one Thousand
men Sir Charles dismisses in the con
temptuous phrase of 'odds and ends"
John Bull must agree that he can make
but a very poor showing for an annual
expenditure Of ove thirty-five million
dollars; and indignant taxpayers ought
soon to be demanding a better show for
their money.