The sun., 1897-10-25
SALISBURY'S NEW SCHEME.
ITS PURPOSE rs TO OPEN THE BRIT
IsH PURSE MORE WIDELY.

ThsXew Scare About the Inadeaunc ofthe Army
Priests WHO Are Persocuted by wonen-
Lamentation Among the Ladies In the Paris
Newspaper ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Gas
Metres - No sale FOR Tennyson's works.
LONDON, Oct. 15.-Since Lord Salisbury took
Office two years ago the British public has boon
bounced into an increase OF naval expenditure
amounting to many millions annually, under
the plea that continental nations were combin-
ing to oppose British interests, and that tho
British Navy must therefore bo ablo to whip
any two or even throe navies which
might possibly DO arrayed against tho
Union Jack. Tho naval panic was one Of
the cleverest and most successful bits Of
domestic politics ever engineered In this coun.
try Tho heavy increase in taxation which tho
enormous addition to naval expenditure made
necessary has been borne with tho most mar
vclous patience ever manifested by a great
nation in time of peace. There has been almost
literally no word of complaint from any class or
any party. Tho national willingness and self
sacrifice have been really wonderful demon
stration Of patriotism Of the rarcst description.
Now a new campaign has been undertaken on
tho same lines and its progress bids fair to prove
another astonishing lesson in the science Of
domestic politics which has for it's object tho
easiest method OF opening tho public purse.
This campaign was begun in midsummer. before
tho adjournment of Parliament, and 1t will
reach its contamination and probable triumph
when the appropriation bills como to be
finally passed next year. Its object is
plainly indicated In the cry OF alarm to-day.
louder than ever over tho condition OF the
military forces of the empire. The British Army.
30 England Is being told in solemn warning by
all tho official voices, is utterly inadequate to
the work that would be put upon 1t in case of
any serious foreign complication in any quarter
Of the globe. An increased expenditure OF at
least s., SOC, 900 per year must DO provided i'm
mediatcly, and oven this addition will only part.
ly remedy tho serious shortcomings which must
be dealt with in tbs near future.
The increase in military force which tho Gov
ernmolt will undoubtedly ask OF Parliament
when 1t meets amounts to IL, 900 men. The cost
of this increnss the first year is estimated at
1915 per man. or about $3.oOo,OOo. But 1t will
lie no easy matter to add IL 900 recruits to tho
British Army. In fact, under present conditions
1t would be altogether imposs Bile. Tho induce
ments to enlist are insufficient even to keep the
present ranks full, aud nothing short of con-
scription would bring forward 11,000 moro
Tommy Atkinses to servo Queen Victoria
at the terms now offered. Tho concession
which is expected to bring in all the men
ration" so-called. and this inducement will add
$S,125 900 annually to the army bill. Increased
pay for long service will add another item.
Some of the alarmst statements about the in
efficiency OF the British Army which are being
put forward under authority are well calcu-
lated to create the military panic which will
yield a fresh contribution from British taxpay-
crs without serious grumbling. For instance, it
is admitted that it would not be practicable to
send out OF the country more than $4,000 men
under the present condition of affairs in case of
any sudden demand for the services OF the
British Army abroad. Gen. Russell, exposing
the inefficiency OF the British Army in Parlia-
ment just before the adjournment last summer.
brought out these astonishing facts:
1T had been shown that at present we had
$4,000 armed men in this country. and Of this
humber the SO, 900 who were bound to 60 broad
were quite incapable to take the field. The in
fantry Of the line was organized on the linked
battalion system. the result being that while
bur foreign army was largely made up Of sea.
soned and well-traned mon, the homo army
was largely composed Of boys and immature
Inen, great many Of them unframed and who'll
1y incapable of going on a campaign. While our
empire had increased year by year, tho army
had not kept pace with that increase. At pres
ent there were thirteen battalions abroad in ex-
cess Of those at home. and tho result was that
drafts OF efficient men to supply those
battalions were taken from resources
at home. This year the Government
had foreshadowed no plan whereby to
supply the want except to send the Guards to
Gibraltar. This condition of affairs WAS bad
enough. but 1t was rendered worse by the fact
that VIC wero reinforcing our garrisons in
South Africa, where appearances seemed to in
dcate that the reinforcement was not likely to DO
O temporary one. The condition of the artillery
was even worse than that of our homo battalions.
Formerly it was the custom to have depots at
Woolwich in order to supply drafts for the ar
tilery abroad. Lately 1t was announced that
the artillery should be increased and should
have moro field batteries The depots at Wool
witch had been abolished, and the batteries
abroad had, in consequence. to be fed by tho
batteries at home to render them efficient But
IL they sent unframed artillerymen into action.
they made disaster an absolute certainty. Many
complaints had been heard among artillery
officers as to the number. youth. immaturity
and physical condition of the men,"
And yet, as ma tier of fact the British Govern.
ment spends annually upon its military forces in
one form or another no less than 81 80, 600, ,0OO
while the navy last year cost only $l20, 900. .0OO
The mere statement of these figures coupled with
the acknowledged weakness and ineficiency
Of the British military system. is prima facie
proof OF tho gross mismanagement of the British
War Department which amounts to one Of
the greatest national scandals of tho age.
The hde.bound conservatism intrenched be-
hind mountains OF red tape seems to DO en-
tirely beyond the roach of criticism or reform.
Sir John Briggs put the situation in its true
light as long ago as 1902. when he said OF tho
British Army and its management: We do not
tell the truth to the English people. Tho Prime
Minister himself cannot get at It," There will