The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-06-09
TIE BRITISH ARMY OF TO-DAY
It's Numbers. Distribution, Methods OF Ne.
eruitinr, and Age Re1u'rer cnts.

WAsBrSoroN June 2-Fourscore statistical
tables issued by the British war authorities.
give the latest information about the strength
and composition OF the British army. so far as
such facts and figures eau do 1t.
As In our own army. the enlisted strength
varies q little from month to month. according
to recruiting and discharges, but the average
strength for 1891 was 2Oa.C9o. made up as fol-
lows: Officers. 1914: warrant officers. $50:
scrgeants. &c. IL. 1870: trumpetors. drummers.
&c, 3.3GS: rank and file. 1861 Dividing 1t
according to stations we find that lOfSn arc
kept in the british Isles. 72.2SS In India, and
32.55l In tho colonies and Egypt.
Ono point of interest to our army Is tho dis
closure in regard to the territorial system OF
recruiting or tho 35,346 recruits during tho
year, 2S,S63 were enlisted in England. 3,44i
in Ireland. and 3.O3G in Scotland London
alone furnished 5.53I men. Tho London army
and NnrH Gazette. which collects the figures Tor
various recruiting districts considers that the
plan OF territorial recruiting simply creates
an unnecessary amount OF confusion" 1t
does not deny that there IRE some advantages
in such II system for some countries. bnt uues-
tons its value for the British army. which Is
foreign service army. recruited from coun-
try where the railway system has been brought
to tho highest ptrfection." Its argument Is
that the population. or at least that portion OF
1t which yields soldiers. is s. migratory that
1t Is best to take the recruits without reference
totorrito.inl divisions and assignments. Tho
very Districts" it holds. lin which county
feeling ought to exist are those in which tho
poorest show of martial enthusiasm is dis
played" and although manufacturing centres
are known to 10 excellent recruiting fields.
yet IN air populations are more or lass rowing.
9IS d c ' trr e.up ns
been some discussion OF late ms to whether in
our army there, might not be some gain in
regiment could hnbituny get is recruits from
one region and esnccialI y from country dis.
woul,! give advantages Of ,ac1Iaintance. and
c1 na WhGh would h"H reTrGthn
@S sS and who e MoS be
less liable to desert. There might also be a
state or local pride in regiments Or companies
efforts to change tho chief held Of recruiting
whom more could be known, and who would
ito British army does s not contiadict that
theory. SO FAR as can be Judged. but i Is tho
Of h Of the
pays for the trouble 1t gives.
OF ns1 p?e5 a is H Of
t asS % andsr g yssrs:
point tho Gazette thinks n mistake is made
Considering the ages at which Continental soldiers
enter upon their military training. there IL much in
these hgmre> which the Brttsh taxpayer has to
dcpnre. There is one fact Of which ought to take
CONFERENCE.-The nnnec-.sary outlay which such
system ours Involves Would 1t not be better lay
down rule that man who enters the ranks of tho
army should be raid and boy
as boy Men might then be attracted In
greater numbers, and boys would ion in the hope Ill
tima'ciy securing their mans wage A. present
result we MI the ranks With growing lads who have
incapable of dong II mans work No system could
AMI no system could lie less calculated popularizc
ply the bulk of our recruits.
More important perhaps. is the question OF
the service that will lc performed by the i'm
mature lads. The Continental armies, general
years 1t is true that there may he three years
of earlier SERVED. counting toward the reserve.
| or idnd'relr or militia term which is eXacted
ike that in the army itself. But this Inst is tho
service which i? exclusive. md not carried on
with ordinary civil occupations. The British
! army has vr-scvenths OF its recruits enisting
| under the age OF 20 AS it is Il volunteer SER
! vice the ease is naturally different from that
| Of the Continental armies where military duty
is compulsory. still there is much specula-
| ton a to the relative results in efficiency
| under the diverse systems.