The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1892-04-16
LONDON GOSSIP.
REVELATIONS con-
CORNING THE ARMY.
The Troops Said by High Authority to
be Utterly Unfit for Service in
Case of War.

Copyright, 1892, by n. Y. Associated Press.l
LONDON, April 10. = The revelations
made before the committee inquiring into
the state of the British army have. been
the sensation of the week. The leading
military chiefs have concurred in the
opinion that there is hardly single in
fantry battalion at home that is not af-
fected. The revelation will lead to active
agitation in Parliament as soon as the re-
cess is over, the Secretary of War having
promised that he will not obstruct full
discussion and secure reforms.
Acknowledgement Wood declared that
90 per cent. OF the men encamped at
Aldershot are unfit for camp uty and
for days service, on account of youth
and lack Of stamina, The Duke of Cam
bridge, Commander-inC Chief, Endorsed
the startling statement, adding that il
called upon 60 mobilize two army corps
on short notice it would be impossible,
and he did not think it possible to mobil-
iZe one corps composed of twenty-five
battalions of infantry.
In response TO query if the battalions
were tit for home defense, Lord w olSeIey
replied; IF we were invaded tomorrow,
they would be little better than nothing"
lie saidAhe volunteer force was the most
important factor in home defense.
The Duke of Connaught said if his COM
mand was ordered to service, not half of
them would be allowed to go on account
of unfitnesS. The main cause Of weak
ness of the home battalions is stated to be
the depletion of the best men for foreign
and colonial service.
Lord Wolsley likened the forces to
squeezed lemon.
The Duke of Connaught held that
grown men would not join the service, as
wearers of the Queens uniform are
socially ostracized and because the sol
diers are burdened with excessive sentry
duty. In regard TO strengthening the
home battalions, the concenSus OF opinion
favored more liberal pay and better pen
SionS.
Salisbury clinched the hold on the
Khedlye by melting him to all open quar-
rel with the Sultan in requesting the
withdral of Moukhtar Pasha.
Gladstone announces that he considers
platform for the coming elections. He
promises to address a series of meetings
during the campaign.
Gladstone, replying to memorial from
the Irish Baptists and other dissenters
against home rule on religious grounds,
contends that the alarm lest the Dub
lin Legislature Cypress Protestants.
ought not to be entertained, as the I'M
perial Parliament is safeguard for reli-
gious and civil freedom.
Ten thousand delegates will be present
at the Unionist Convention at Belfast.
and 10000 persons will participate in the
procession.
The rumor that John Dillon is about to
retire from political life, on account of
quarrel with Healy, is ridiculed.
The prospect OF the cotton lock out is
of short duration, as the employers will
hold a meeting Tuesday to decide the
question of arbitration. The struggle is
unparalleled in the history oftrade, as 65,-
600 hands are now idle, and will be in
creased to 10000.
j. b. Martin, Mrs. Martin Victoria
WoodhulD, and Lady Cook (Tennie C.
Clatlln), sailed on the steamship Trave
Wednesday for New York. Mrs. Martin
stated that she had been offered $50, 900
for fifty lectures III the United States on
humanitarian government and other sub
jects, and would accept if her health per-
mitted.