The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-04-16
Leading Military Men Acknowledge Its
Weakness.
TIE MILITIA UNFIT FOR ACTIVE DUTY.
Gladstone Announces His Plan Of Campaign-The
Newcastle Programme Adopted-The Union.
ist Convention at Belfast.
Copyrighted. 1882. by the New YORK Associated
Press

LONDON, April 15.-The revelations made
before the committee inquiring into the
state of the British army has been the sem
sation OF the week. Leading military chiefs
concurred in the opinion that there Is
hardly single infantry battalion at home
that Is not affected. The revelations will
lead TO an active agitation in Parliament as
soon as the recess Is over. the Secretary for
war having promised that he will not OBJ
struct the full discussion of the proposed
reforms. Adjutant-General Wood has de-
e!ared that 80 per cent of the men encamped
at Aldershot were unfit for camp duty and
Tor any length of service on account of
youth and lack of stamina. The Duke Of
cambridge, the chief, in
aorses this startling statement. adding that
IL he was called upon to mobilize the two
army corps on short notice it would be i'm
possible, and he did not think it possible to
mooillZe one corps, composed of % bat
taiions OF infantry. In response to a query
In regard to the battalols fit for home de-
tense, if called upon. Lord Wellesley replied
III we were invaded to morrow they
would be better than nothing" He said the
volunteer force was most important fac
Tor In home defense. The Duke of Con-
naught said if his command was ordered
TO active service not half of them would
De allowed to go On account of unfitness,
the main cause being weakness. The home
battaions are stated to have been depleted
OF their best men for foreign and colonial
service. Lord Wolseley likened the forces
to squeezed lemon. The Duke of Con-
naught held that grown men would not
join the service. as the wearerS of the
queens uniform were socially oStraciZed,
ana because the soldiers were wantonly
Durdened with excessive sentry duty. In
regard to strengthening the home battal-
Ions. the consensus of opinion favored more
liberal pay and better pensions.
Salisbury has clinched his hold on the
khedive by melting him to an open quarrel
with the Sultan I'm requesting the with
drawal of Moukhtar Pasha.
Gladstone announces that he considers
the Newcastle programme a definite plat
form for the coming elections. He promises
TO address series OF meetings during the
campaign. Gladstone. replying to a me-
mortal from the Irish BaptIsts and other
dissenters against home rule on religious
grounds. contends that the alarm lest the
Dublin Legislature should oppress the prot
estants ought not to be entertained, as the
imperial Parliament Is safeguard for re-
liglous and civil freedom. Ten thousand
delegates will be present at the Unionist
convention in Belfast, and 10000 persons
will participate In the procession.
The rumOr that John Dillon is about TO
retire from political life on account of q
quarrel with Healy is ridiculed. There is
prospect that the cotton lockout will be Of
short duration, as the employers will hold a
meeting 10 decide the question of arbitra-
Ton. The struggle is unparalleled in the
history OF the trade, as 65, 600 hands are now
Idle ana the number will be increased TO
10000.