Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1892-03-04
MILITARY olSAFFECTloN.
Recent Outbreaks Among the Dissatisfied
English Soldiery.

English Soldlery.
The Punishment of an entire English
regiment to hard duty in Canada as a
punishment for INSTRUMENTATION is still
fresh In the public mind, followed as it
was by another mutiny much more Sc
rious, the mutineers being sent upon
that occasion to Indian service The
latest report from Aldershot has Gre
ated sensation in England and pro-
found sympathy for the soldiers
throughout the kingdom. The report
duplicates number Of the soldiers of
the crack regiments OF that place in an
attempt upon the life of corporal,
whose inhuman severity to the mon in
his command could no longer be borne.
In the last Eve years from every
branch of the English army, both in
England and in the foreign service, a
dangerous discomfort suppressed only
by the most severe measures, has been
apparent and the strongest feeling
against entering the service is every
where manifested.
army was the finest in the world, when
the morale and discipline were perfect,
and the soldier himself was proud of
the service. The decline in the popu-
larity of the army has been going on
fon long time. Commissions in the
Itarhy are bought for scapegraces of all
Kinds, but scapegraces as u rule, do
not take kindly to discipline, although
they afeinVariably the severest marti'
nets. The homogeneous life Of the bar.
1, racks, theane ver.ending aborous drills,
| the lack spf actuaf employment befit'
Ting solder, wear upon the rank and
I file, andathe regulations and conditions
dsof the service make many abuses posi-
4 bic. :
+. The disaffection of the English SOL
dery is marked when compared to the
enthusiasm exhibited for the army In
France where the army is mainly Of re-
serve men, drawn from civil life, per
fectly trained volunteer force, and the
discipline OF the German army, the reg
iments OF which bear the most protract
ed drills without murmur.
Politicians and statesmen are begin
ming to regard the situation In the army
of England as serious, but are at los,
to know how exactly to proceed in its
reorganization. In many years there
has been no period when the anxiety
that the army should regain its prestig,
was so great as 1t is now. England,
foreign relations are beset with dan
gers, and at any time diplomacy may
fail and force be the means Of main
tanning her position.
That spirit OF patriotism which ami
mates the armies of France, Russia anC
Germany Is not SO intense in tho Eng
lish army. The soldiers have know
the hardships OF campaigns under TIN
burning suns and amid the driftin.
sands Of Egypt, and in the malariou
low-lands of India The statesmen
would sacrifice every soldier In tn
army to retain India, and many brav
men have already laid down their lives
useless sacrifice in Egypt but tn
masses of the English people are boun
by ties of blood and interest to onl
two of the foreign possessions: to Car
ada, because 1t has before 1t prospec
OF political liberty; to Australia, who's
manifest destiny is independence, an
they care no more for India and Egypt
where, nevertheless, they must supper
armies who loathe the duties they mus
there perform than, they do China an
the heart of Africa. Chicago Graphic