The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-02-13
MR. HYNlHAM

In the House Of Commons, Explains
That There Are IN the British
Army ana Enlistmsnts IN sight q
Total Of Nearly coo, 900 Hen.
LONDON. Feb. i2.-rha house Of
commons was crowded to-day In antic-
lpatlon Of the statement Of Mr. George
wyndham. parliamentary secretary o.
the war ONCE, IN regard 70 the army
measure. Joseph Il. choate. the uni
ted States Ambassador; Henry White,
the secretary Of the United States ems
bassy, ana w I. Baker. president Of
the Chicago Board Of Trade. were
among those present in the high dis
tlnguished strangers gallery.
Mr.. Wyndham arose. amidst cheers,
when the house went into committee on
supply ana said that he did not propose
70 deal with the question Of the prose-
cution Of the war. but would immedi-
ately outline other military measures
necessary for placing home defense on
satisfactory footing. The govern
ment, he continued. had NOT even COM
siderod the question Of compulsory SER
vice, which was entirely unnecessary in
view Of the actlvity Of recruiting for the
auxiliary forces. During the spring
ana GUNNER the volunteer artillery will
be re-armed. A mounted infantry vol
unteer corps would be formed. The ar
tillery, army service corps and engi-
neers necessary for two additional
army corps would be raised forthwith
namely, thirty-six field batteries and
seven horse batteries. The speaker also
said It had been decided TO raise twelve
additional infantry battalions.
Mr.. wyndham said the existing cav
airy force would also be extended and
that commissions would be offered to
military officers, to the colonies andto
the universities. At present the speak
er further pointed out there were 100000
regularu In the country and the increase
was anticipated TO be $4,000. There were
now $4,000 men in the auxiliary forces,
and It was estimated the increase win
be $4,000 men. So, altogether, the cotin-
try would soon have at least $4,000 men
and Mr.. Wyndham anticipated that the
number would be nearer 100000 than
half million.
The secretary Of state for war, Lord
Lansdowne, furnished the house Of
lords with a statement similar to that
Of Mr.. Wyndhau.
The Prince Of Wales and the Duke of
Cambridge were interested listeners in
the house Of lords.
In the course OF his remarks, Mr.
wyndham referred to the governments
confidence in the power and splendid
efficiency Of the fleet, saying 1t was
never greater or more Legitimate than
now.
The government, Mr.. Wyndham then
SAID, was not making an appeal for mos
ney and men in a spirit of panic The
risk was not very much nearer than
year ago, but 1t had Increased in exact
proportion to the reduction OF the home
military defense which sufticed to JUS
tify the present demands for an In
crease Of the resources for home de-
tense.
Sir Charles Dixie, advanced Radical,
member for the Forest of Dean division
Of Gloucestershire, said Mr.. Wynd-
hams speech Seemed to support the
heresy that Great Britain should rely
upon home defense while the truth was
that the most powerful defense lay in
the striking power Of the fleet"
The Liberal leader, Sir Henry Camp
bell Bannerman, who followed, said he
had heard of the great scheme for the
administration of great army. but he
had not heard single figure mentioned
as to the cost thereof, nor even in re-
gard to the particular vote, How
much Of tbs money required was due
to the present war?
To this question Mr.. wyndham re-
Piled 100000 pounds.
Sir Henry Campbell Bannerman said
he could not be expected to pronounce
an opinion upon the scheme suddenly,
but, he added he believed nine-tenths
OF his hearers were ready to do almost
anything for the purposes Of the pres
ent war. but would like to regard 1T as
a war measure alone. leaving the ques-
tion Of the future increase and re-
arrangement open for future discussion.
It was explained in the Hobbies Of the
house Of commons that Mr.. wyndham
meant to convey that all the supple
mentary estimates asked for were due
TO the war except 100000 required for
the new scheme to close the financial