The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-04-16
STATE OF ALB|0N'S ARMY
Revelations Of Its Total Inefflciency
Are the Sensation Of the
Week.
Fifty Per Gent Of the Soldiers
Unfit for Damp or Ac-
tive Duty.
The Soldiers "Wou1d he better Than
Nothing" IL the Country Wore In
vnded-F Foreign News.

copyright. 1892. New York Associated Press
LONDON, April 15.-The revelations made
before the committee of inquiry into tho
state of the British army have been tho
sensation of the week. Leading military
chiefs concurred in the opinion that there
is hardly q single infantry battalion at
homo that is not affected. The revelations
will lead to active agitation in parliament
as soon as the recess is over the secretary
of war having promised that he will not
obstruot full discussion and secret reforms.
Adiutant-G General Wood declared that SO
per cent Of the men encamped at Aldershot
are unfit for camp duty and for days
service on account of youth and lack of
stamina. The duke Of Cambridge, COM
mander-i in-chief, endorsed the startling
statement adding that if called upon to
mobilize two army corps on short notice it
would be impossible. and he did not think
it possible to mobilize one corps composed
Of twenty five battalionR Of infantry. In
response to query il there was a battalion
fit for home defense, Lord Woolsley re-
piled: IF we were invaded tomorrow they
would be better than nothing" He said
the volunteer force was a most important
factor in home defense. The duke of Con-
naucht said if his command was ordered to
service, not half Of them would be allowed
to 90 on account Of unfitness.
TIE main cause Of the weakness of home
battalions ls stated to be the depletion Of
best men for foreign and colonial service.
Lord Woolsley lilkened the forces to
squeezed lemon. The duke of Connaugh
held that grown men would not join the
service. as wearers of the queens uniform
are socially ostraoized and because soldiers
are wantonly burdened with excessive SEN
try duty. In regard to strengthening the
home battalions the concensus of opinion
favored more liberal pay and better PEN
sions. t 5
| Salisbury has clinched hold on the khe-
dive by inoiting him to an open quarrel
with the sultan in requesting the with
| draval of Moukhtar pasha.
| Gladstone announces that he considers
the Newcastle programme definite plat
form for the coming elections. He prom
Z ises 10 address series Of meetings dn,ine
! the campaign. Gladstone, lenlying to a
memorial from Irish Baptists and other
dissenters. against home rule on religious
| grounds, contends that the alarm lest the
Dublin legislature oppress Plotestants
ought not to be entertained. as the i'm
peria parliament is safeguard for 1eliR-
ious and civil freedom.
Tel thousand delegates will be present at
the ualonists' convention in Belfast and
10000 persons will participate i'll the pro-
| cession,
| The rumor that John Dillon is about to
retire from political life on account of a
quarrel with Healy is ridiculed.
There is a prospect that tho cotton lock-
out will be of short duration. as the enl-
ploye. will hold meeting Tuesday to de-
oide the question of arbitration The
struggle ia unparalleled in the history oi
trade, as the 1000 hands now idle will be
| increased to 10000.
Mr.. J. B. Martin. Mrs. Martin (Victoria
WoodhulD and Lady Cook, (Tennie G.
CIuhln), sailed on the steamship Trave
Wednesday for New York Mrs. Martin
stated that she was offered E5O,O00 for fifty
lectures in the United States on humanitar-
| ian. government and other subjects. and
would accept if her health permitted.