The Portland daily press., 1899-12-20
Vice Consul Heating
Names the Forces.
Describes How Each Military
Branch Is Constituted.

q
are now being carried on In South Africa
are Of such absorbing interest that any
thing relating TO the armed strength Of
either Of the combatanss ID surely peril
nent. Vice Consul Heating was seen
yesterday by reporter Of the PRESS
and asked about the military resources Of
Great Britain, repliedi -
"EngIand has not formidable stand
ing army ss the tsrm 10 applied to Euro-
psan nations. She rather like America
depends upon the patriotism Of her citi-
zens to come forward in time Of National
danger. But she has force composed Of
I've different branches, the regular army,
the reserve. the ysomanry, the militia
aud the volunteers.
"The regular forces Of the British at
homs and In the colonies In 1898 was 147.-
1o5 men. Army reserve s0,ie0 militia.
1000; Yeomanry 1l,6is; volunteers,
263, 52s.
"Ths total of all branches including
the regular forces and the Indian sstab.
lishment was 7l5. 6s3 Of whom Cos, 1874 are
clsssed as electives. The number Of
horses and mules exclusive Of officers,
mounts on the British establishment was
IA, 716 and on. the Indian establishment
-, 1s0"
"Doss this total include native troops,
SO called and those of the oolonies?"
"No," said Vice Consul Heating, "the
forces Of Canadn. Australia and New
Zealand are not counted In my summary
nor are the native troops. Canada's force
includes 2i56 cavalry, 1874 field artillery,
1878 garrison artillery. 212 engineers, 2s,-
Sic infantry and at her military schools
| and oollsges..there are sos men, total
strength of 1904.
1.-THE strength Of the Indian army alone
(nativss) Is 12s. e63. and every one Of them
are natural born fighters.
Vice Consul Heating then explained
how ths army was divided into regulars,
reserves militia, etc.. sAyingi
"The army Is recruited from men who
volunteer to serve In the different regi-
ments for a period not to exceed twelve
years, and according to the branch to
which the man happens to enlist In, he
serves from three to fivs years Fin active
service. After which time he is trans
ferred to the reserve force and receives q
smali sum daily so that he may be held
to the call Of the government when his
services shall be required.
Gan governmental positions, selections
on the police foroe, railways, etc., are
preferably given to Army Reserve men.
There Is what 10 called the first reserve
and also Q second reserve. the personnsl
- a. L.,
ure by the age and special fervices Of the
men who have served with the regular
establishment Probably the younger
men will be found In the first reserve tine
older ones being assig ned to the second
reserve.
81 said these reserves were made up OF
men who had served from three to fve
years, but should add that an enlisted
man may eleet to serve the full period of
twelve years with the colors and II reconi-
mended by his commanding officer may
re-enliSt to complete twenty-one years
service at the expiration Of which he te-
comes psnsioner ani is also transferred
to the first class English reserves.
"Ths militia IL q separate body from
the army. composed Of .men who volun-
teer to serve at least one month q year
subject 70 discipline under canvas or in
barracks. Then there are the volunteers,
another separate branch. having strength
In the United Kingdom of about 200, 900
men. These uen receive per capita
grant from the government for every
efficient man reported BY the inspecting
officer.
"They drin and execute their
mapoeuvTes In their own drill halls and
In public buildings and have their field
days participating with the regular
troops. The yeomnnry are exactly on the
same footing as the volunteers and ara a
very superior set of men. They constitute
kind OF volunteer cavalry, own their
own horses and deserve the epithet 'stur-
dy' SO often applied to them.
"In all branches of the volunteer SER
Woe the officers and men bear the greater
part of the expense among themselves.
The government only providing them
with uniforms, arms. accoutremeDts.
etc. Tie volunteers arc enlisted and
swear allegiance In prescribed form
and agree to do duty for the protection of
the United Kingdom and are not per-
mittsd, By act Of parliament to BIZ sent
out Of the kingdom save by their own in
dividual consent"
In closing his very instructive inter-
view Vice Consul Keating referred to
the fact that oatside OF the different
branches of the army just mentioned
there was large number of able bodied
men who had seen service and who had
been trained In warfare and could render
inoslculatle aid should the exigenry re-
quire their enrolment.