The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-10-22
IN RGOvERS HENRY BULLER
EHEF coAnIAND on ENeIA NDs ToRcEs TN SCUM ArRI

of our army system, under which only a
ridiculously small force of trained sol
diers were maintained in time of peace; a
force quite insufficient to do our fighting in
time of war In the present juncture the
British army system, which includes the
recruiting department, of course, may be
put to almost as severe test as was the
American system last year. For although
the total military forces of the British
empire are enormous in number, aggregat-
ing considerably over three quarters of a
million, all told the forces Immediately
available for service against the Beers. in
whose subjugation the British navy obvi-
ously can take no part, are only a small
fraction of that number Even the fig
ures representing the active fighting forces
numbering nearly quarter of a million
are misleading, since they include 125,0J0
or thereabouts, that must be kept in In
dia. That leaves only about 100000 effec-
tive troops in Great Britain and Ireland to
draw upon.
1t is true that there are nearly 100000
others more or less well trained in mill
tary affairs. but only a portion of these
can be drawn upon, and large fraction
of them would make as sorry work OF
fighting i'm the TranSVaal or anywhere
of American recruits. This force is divid-
ed about as follows: Army reserves, SO. 900;
militia, 5000; veomanry, 10000; volunteers
232, coo Some of these cannot be taken out
of the country. except for defense, some
are trained but little if any better than our
national guard, while others-the reserves
though they have seen service, are pref
ty old to do active service in a foreign
cline and have long been out of training
And, no matter how many are sent to
South Africa their places must be filled
by recruits somehow. If possible, since it
would never do for England. with potent
possible enemies separated from her by
only few miles of sea. TO allow any mate
rial reduction of her forcs at home. In
these circumstances the present activity
of Great Britains recruiting machinery is
a matter of necessity.
Man Who Gives the shilling.
The British recruiting sergeant, the
the man who gives the shilling is a splen-
did creature. He is tall. erect. broad Of
shoulders. deep of chest, supple of limb
with the bearing of conqueror tempered
by melting geniality. and with an ideally
persuasive tongue Always in uniform and
white gloves, with little cap a-tilt on his
head. with baton twirling airily in his
hand and continually in evidence. he plays
most important part in the army sys-
TEN of his country. He generally hunts in
couples and his chosen walks are either in
the vicinity of some great barracks or in
the poorer quarters of the town where he
Is located. Naturally more men are re-
cruited in London than anywhere else. The
favorite stamping grounds of the London
recruiting sergeants are in the neighbor-
hood of the Horse Guards and in Trafalgar
square. on the side fronted by the Nation
al Gallery and st. Martins Church.
No one who mas been much in London
need he told why the recruiting sergeants
patrol in the vicinity of the Horse Guards.
since there. day after day. a miniature
military parade-the regular ceremony of
Suard MOUNTS he'd. The detachment Of