The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-04-16
THEY COULD NOT FIGHT.
The Batta|lons Of Britain are like a
Squeezed Lemon"
LORD WOlSELEY'S OPINION.
The Cotton Strike May be Soon Ended
Borrowe ct nj. Arc Not at All Anxious
for Bioodshed-Threc Vessels Collide
Small Pox and Tight Money.

scopyright. New York Associated Press.)
LONDON, April 1o.-The revelations
made in evidence on the state of the Brit
ish army given before the committee OF
inquiry presided over by Lord Vantage
have bee.. the sensation of the week. The
recommendations which the COMMITTEES
previously published were dry and
formal propositions, indicating nothing
OF the extraordinary statements OF the
leading military chiefs. These latter were
of such . nature a. will lead to the most
active agitation In Parliament as soon a.
the recess IL over.
A group OF military members of the
House Of Commons have already seen
War Secretary Stanhope, privately and
extorted from him a promise that the
government shall not obstruct q full dis
cussion and consequent reforms. The
generals examined concurred In the
opinion that there was hardly single in
fantry battalion at home effective.
Adjutant- General 6ir Evelyn Wood de-
clared that 30 per cent. OF the men en-
camped at Aldershot were unit for camp
duties; that they could not even do q
days service on account Of their youth
and lack OF stamina, and that the only
practice he dared to put such men to was
two hours carrying the pack or sentry
duty.
The Duke of Cambridge, commander
in-chief endorsed the startling statement,
adding that IL called upon to mobilize
two army corps on short iotice, the au-
thorities could not do 80, and he did not
think il possible to mobilize one corps
composed of twenty five battalions OF in
fantry.
Lord wolseIey, In response to ques.
tion whether the battalions as they now
stand would be fit for homo defence, re-
piled: "If we were invaded tomorrow
they would be better than nothing" He
held that the volunteer force was the
most important factor in defence.
The Duke of Connaught said: 81 am
perfectly certain that IL the battalions
under my command at Portsmouth were
ordered to service tomorrow one half OF
them would not be allowed to 60, on ac-
count of unfitness." The main cause OF
the weakness of home batttalions is stated
to be depletion OF their best men for for
eign and colonial service.
Lord Wolseley likened tho home forces
to a squeezed lemon. The Duke OF Con-
naught held that grown men would not
join the service owing to the fact that wear
ers OF the Queens uniform are socially
ostracised, and also because soldiers are
wantonly burdened with sentry duty.
A memorial from the Irish Baptists and
other dissenters against Home Rule on
religious Rrounda WAS recently sent to
Mr.. Gladstone, who in replying contened
that the alarm lest the Dublin legislature
might oppress Protestants ought not to
be entertained as an act passed by the
imperial parliament would safeguard re-
ligious and civil freedom.
Mr.. Chamberlain has written Q letter
in which he upbraids dissenters for sup
porting Mr.. Gladstone.
There is q prospect that the cotton
lockout will be Of short duration. A
number OF employers pledged to the lock-
out continue working, paying q fine to
the federation fund for their breach of
pledge. Others favor the operatives
offer to arbitrate. A conference Of en-
ployes will decide the question as to ar
bitration on Tuesday. II q majority in
sist upon q general prolonged stoppage,
the position OF the workers, already
grave, will be aggravated.
The struggle Is unparalleled In the his
tory Of the cotton trade. There are 65,-
600 hands now idle and the number will
be increased, by including dependent
trades, to 10000. Some of the workers
unions are fairly prepared to face the
lockout, while others will starve.