The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-10-21

Supplementary Ests-<-tes Explained
I'm the Commons by Mr.. WyDdham.

supplementary Ests-<rtes Explained
In the Commons by Mr.. WyDdham.
LONDON, Oct. 20-In the House of Com
mons to-day the first lord of the treasury.
Arthur j. Balfour, moved an address of
thanks to her Majesty for the royal mes
sage calling out the militia.
John Dillon, Nationalist. moved an amend
ment declaring the embodiment of the mi
litia unnecessary. This was rejected - 299
to 36.
In reply to a question regarding the ru-
mored purchase of Delagoa bay, Mr.. Bal
four said no arrangements had been made
for such transaction. Replying to ques-
ton as to Samoa, he said no decision had
yet been reached with reference to the fu-
ture administration of the islands.
The House having gone into committee of
supply, the parliamentary undersecretary
of state for war; Mr.. Wyndham, introduced
the supplementary army estimates. In the
course of an explanation of the nature of
the call and of the manner in which the
nation has responded to 1t he said: THE
British military system, If it is worth any
thing, must enable us to send an expedi-
ton abroad without depriving our homes OF
protection. We cannot be satisfied unless
we can send such an expedition without
destroying the machinery for maintaining
our army abroad. The result of the recent
test had been a source of legitimate salts
faction and an encouragement to further
effort in the future.
Dealing with the new army corps now
going out, Mr.. Wyndham said 1t numbered
1900 regulars, all trained and mature men,
including 5000 cavalry, ia guns, 261 wagons,
from 1900 to 11,000 horses and 1900 mules.
1t had been necessary to call portion Of
the reserve in order to bring some Of the
regiments to their full war strength. The
government therefore has called for %, 900
men. Assuming that 2l,000 would be effec-
tive-and this expectation had been fully
verifed-the British force in the field would
consist of 5000 men with the colors and
1900 reservists. .
LARGE FORCE NEEDED
This may seem a large force" said Mr..
Wyndham, "but we must reflect that the
two republics, by their juxtaposition and
situation, have strategical advantage,
enabling them to concentrate for attack at
any point on a frontier of 300 miles, a
frontier everywhere hundreds of miles from
the sea, and when we further consider the
area involved which is inhabited by $780,
600 natives it Is clear that considerations
of humanity dictate that the empire should
display an unmlstakable exhibition Of
strength in order to rescue one of its great
est dependencies from the horrors of doubt
full and dilatory operations"
In discussing the organization of the
enormous transport service, Mr.. Wyndham
said that by Oct. % 24.oe0 men would be
shipped: that Is, in less than six days. The
cost of mobilizng 1900 men, transferring
them six thousand miles, equipping them,
maintaining them for four months in a land
destitute of surplus supplies. Mr.. Wyndham
said, would be 8S,00O,VO.
by dispatching these thirty-three bat
talions," he continued, I'VE destroy thirty
three machines for training men and in
structing officers in their simplest duties
and we break up the more complex organ
ism of brigades necessary for the instruc-
ton of general and staff officers. The gov
ernment, therefore. propose to embody
thlrty-three battalions Of militia.
I'VE should have violated fundamental
principle of our army system IL we had
mobilized without militia, that principle be-
ing that when all the battalions of regi-
ment are sent abroad we must call out the
affiliated militia battalion and form a pro-
visional battalion by welding the militia
and the men under twenty left behind.
Cavalry and field artillery are strength
ened differently. We propose to raise seven
cavalry regiments remaining at home TO
a higher establishment and to raise the
nineteen home batteries to six-gun estab-
lishments The steps l have described will
not be made to assist in the war against
the two republics, but to put the army In
the same POSITION as It was before the
war. Such steps are necessary unless we