The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-09-09
WEAKNESS or ENGIAND's ARMY.
Impressions OF a Volunteer In One of the New
Training Camps.

A correspon dent serving in an English yolun-
tecT regiment gives a graphic account OF lie
in one OF the new training CAMPS that have
been Instituted In England for the instruction
of the volunteers and militia. The descrlp-
ton speaks for itself and needs little II any
comWent- lie says:
-The camp was that o. the North Midland
Brigade and some other regiments, First ard
second Nottingham robin Hood Riiesh
Fourth Nottingham. First and Second Derby
shire. First, Second and Third Lincolnshire.
First, Second, Third and Fourth Essex, First
Northamptonshlre and the Norfolk Militia
Artillery. The weather was verv wet md a
gale wrecked the camp on the nights OF Aug.
3 ard The work. on the whole. was inter-
esting, though 1t was pltiablc TO see some Of
the recruits, many OF them mere lads, who were
unable TO stand roughing il in the bad weather.
From the experience | have now gained during
five years ~service. l can quite understand
how It happens that our army should meet
with disaster on active service through the
hlundaring and Incompetence of its on GERS
and the Encouragement Of the supply de-
partmcnts
"lnstructiornl camps which hnve been pre-
pairing FOR a whole wear in advance are muddled
in such q manner that no enc knows where
he Is, what his work may be, whether he
will get any dinner or not on any given dav
through the narades. manauvres, &C.. being
ordered, couutermandcd and ordered again
at different hours. The comnissariat arrange
mputs this YEAR werc hoastly, and myself and
a few more messed ourselves al our own, "S-
pcnsc rather than tackle the TptiCns. had the
opportunity tO tell both orr adlutant and quar-
tcrmaSter what thought OF things in general
before I leit. What would be the state o. things
werc England seriously threatened with inva-
sion one trcu blcS 20 think. IL would be- a nero
useless eIcrilicc even 10 try and defend ones
country: there would he moro reason to fear
Tor ones lie through ia" numbering Of our own
authoIitirs and the rascd!ty Of our contractors
t.,n through the ene,nr'S weapons
Everything Is sacrificed 10 appearance. The
uniform are imposing. The scarlet " tie aud
silver ut the LilCo!u-hlreS, the l,llo-' green,
the Artillery blue and gold. all looks very Grand
but under all that are empty stoinaChS ard
dirty bodies, and under the officers helmets
no brains. The hundreds Of lines Of white tents
look very fine, but In order To preserve their neat
appearanCe there are no conve1ieuces for the
mcn. who are not allowed TO make any add.
tio1al arrangements for their own comfort, TO
wash il was necessary Ia walk several hundred
yards. no water, buck ats, pans, dc.. being al
lowetin the hines, nor were men allowed TO bring
two canvas kitbass, which must contain every.
thing. These arc new regulations, which will
lead 70 the Disappearance OF the last few better
educated men from the ranks.
THE general tone OF the volunteer corps
has been deEe1erating steadily for the last
few years. and In another year or two only tho
wary IINF~A 'ALNN VI NV NAAN bh ~ IVY NAlllA W
do with them. They will become like the Ian
cashires, who pelted their Colonel and officers
for sport with herrings from the nsh stalls near
the camp at Yarmouth just before we went In;
while many Of the regiments. will refuse 20 go
10 camn nj all. as some Of the crack London
corpsdid this year, Ishould not be surprised II
ali this /, being done of set purpose. so that
the military authorities may be able 70 declare
tho volunteers Inadequate and SO force on
conscription, and then the public will learn what
II means 10 allow the army 10 remain under
the control Of. tho aristocratio class, That
there ever will be n citizen army In England, |
doubt. a. our people seem 10 have lost all idea
of helping themgelves or Of safeguarding their
own interests. II any Power were TO strike
now nj ENGLAND the Empire would collapse
like a house of cards and II the French prepara-
tons moan that the French Government IL
aware Of the true condition Of things and Is
going to take advantage Of u then the end Is
nearer than those who proclaim our position
TO be stronger than ever have any idea Of.
That the navy will be found as wanting a. tho
army many fear. II seems a. though the de-
mented lingo element will get all tho war they
want and more. The governing classes have
got us into n pretty fine mess, and how they
will get us out Of il. whether We shall hlunder
through somehow, or get into a worse one with
Imperial disaster to follow, remainsto be seen