The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-04-09
THE BRITISH ARMY OF TO- ID
The Home and Foreign Force. the Recruits.
the Food and Clothing. the Munitions OF war.

The Home and Foreign Force. the Recruits.
the Food and Clothing. the Munitions or War.
WASHINGTON. April s-Twentv years ago
the new British army system was inaugurated
under Lord CaldwelL The changes included
the abolition Of the purchase Of commissions.
the Introduction OF short terms OF enlistment.
the localizing OF the organizations. the estab-
lishment Of the reserve. the recognizing OF
the infantry. and the uniting OF the control OF
tho regular and auxiliary forccs. These
changes were effected after stubborn opposi-
tion from a conservatism which dreaded any
interference with the ancient order OF things.
The recent speech. however. OF Mr.. Campbell
Bannerman In the House OF Commons on the
army estimates. and on the provision for 1884,
442 men Of all ranks. insists that the reforms
then made have been justified by experience.
In treating OF what remains to be done the
Secretary Of State for War proposes chiefly to
eaualiZe the battalions. which has not hith-
erto been properly done. and in the cavalry
to allow recruits to be enlisted not for par
ticulnr regiments. but for special branches Of
the cavalry. such as the Lancers. Hussars.
or Dragons. as the case may DO. These men
can then be sent to any regiment in tho
branch selected. and can also be changed from
one regiment to another. which will be OF nd
vantage when troops have to be sent out Of tho
islands to foreign service.
Another point mentioned fs that very re-
Gently the army corps system for foreign SER
vice has been abandoned. and instead OF hold
ing in readiness for immediate embnrkation
the First Corps and line OF communication
troops. q body has been substituted which Is
mudo up for the probable demands OF an
average small war. 1t includes n divieion OF
infantry. a brigade OF cavalry. a battalion Of
mounted infantry. three batteries OF field and
txro ~ horco , rfillary and specinl fOfces enoh
MS bridging and telegraph troops. tho balloon
section. and tho bakery column. The total
force may be put ut 10000 men and 87OO
horses. This ncld force has its stores ready
at ull .times. SO that It cun start as soon as
ships can take 1t.
The recruits for the year under consideration
numbered 41.G59. and Ger. Fielding prose-
cuted the recruiting with much energy.
Special .eniistments. both In cavalry aud in in
fantry. were FIRST checked and then dispensed
with at tho end OF February. The height
standard Of the Guards was raised to 8 feet
o inches. that OF artillery gunners to S feet
6i inches. that Of artillery drivers to o feet 4
inches. this last being a gain Of an fuch. Men
have been encouraged to pass from the army
TO the reserve when sufficiently trained and OF
good character. II they have been able to.show
that their parents needed their assistance Mt
home. and that they had a prospect Of employ
inent when they got there. Mr.. Campbell
Bannerman said that he could conceive
nothing more unfortunate for the army than
that a man in that condition should be held to
his bargain when his interest and his duty to
his own family strongly pull in the other a.
r%eetion;" This declaration may have a certain
recently adopted system Of purchase by dis.
charge. although. OF course. tho CAGES are not
Much attention. il appeRrs. has recently bcen
paid IN he British service 70 improving the
fi Sspsction MT To-, tie sIsak! nots. sna ih sat oth er
t nS,f ioS sa' ppS5xted'E WoaId s aRs an .nT id nst ~ th 2,
great steps forward in this direction. In the
able to make a satisfactory report:
,e / %sa !n sa! e: VIZ s:i J, e lss E nag :Sa. .. = y sspt ss
rom is"n, l 70 FG l'Sss; e. 3 " 'aisl pn naasss o; FL iria ns'I ts
Sasn$sT "f'I Isa / s5 as:siiIsn and sS::aes Wa:
but I believe the Improvement is still going on, Gener:
a. III .p ssso.n notation ss assaif Is 1 anos %'ai,iHs{ n "T'ii" osi Ga. to : shs
s sssr. i; Ia la. .s S.s ssf po:.;b iiss 10 asdss. dg r. .= ,as lass e.
hon At briston4Pr,son from 4os to ITO.
The health Of troops. both at home and
thu sH% eio thin: q an subject disc Gus eai from Mn'' tim ne to
] The date Of issue. 3 solder viii receive ks
outnt on enlistment and his annual rsat as
ST. 4 + !; ~ %n en-: vi. ;Ss Z. n g.: IA fly e q ::ii 4: ss', 4 ":
oS eolnrsds. lie lew viii also rtcs,vs es IN saieaAf fSs
ANY any, . g. ,,.a., be may e. mot 1s ,s ~ + .,,I Th Tsn. ,hs i aaslye e
H %sy o.a. nn q Be- s.G 4.nswe Se S.ins 81. f &c. r.s"l.n as Ssass 81
Those are the main PRINCIPLES. and ! cannot but
eminent OF the soldier. although 1t throws a certain
amount of expense upon the public exchequer.
The, reserSe IL In q fourishing condition,
y year II s6:o 1to wRI nsG l. Yin the r + sfiasRsst un niss
the system. The militia is alro doing well. It's
for the year preceding. Tho yeomanryh has. as
usual, not been satisfactory; but some re:
one more chance for greater efficiency and for
making 1t loss an amusement and more q
business occupation to those engaged In
I ISreo II IN Il. ys'Ss ct shsm haze Ssln a!sG nd dSRH Ss] Ia. Z
guns. Mr.. Brookdsld. dining The deb debate
sS.65 yHs sr ttiRlIIs@ts and Ifi!2s Il. 300 g. en na2;es9 infantry
As to munitions OF war. 1t appears that ,346..
200 magazine rifles have been made. and that
: $1,000 are IN the hands Of troops and 10000
soon be issued. while no fewer. than 81 bat
cries. including 53 at home and 33 In India,
IRE armed with the 12-pounder guns.
Taxing together tho various speeches on the
that the. British, military establishment
8 in q. very fair degree Of efficiency. Per-
iaps this impression may spring In part. from
ne Tact that there. Is inst now no curront sem
'ation ailoat about worthless ,bayonets or mI-
mics among the Guards. such as from time to
starts q cry that tho whole service Is
Ioirg 10 the dogs, Not. indeed. thatIgroul ling
8 O lost art; Only recently complaints We're
leard that the army was too much composed
unseasoned. youngsters: but In general it
ion tho military establishment is reasonably