New-York tribune., 1901-03-10
cconyrisht: 1901; By The New-York Tribune,
COMPETITION.
IBY CABLE TO THE TRIBUNE-I

London. March 9.-Military experts are dfvid-
ed respecting the utility and necessity Of the
military changes proposed by the Secretary OF
War They perceive an evident intention on the
part OF the military authorities to imit9' Ger
man and French methods of the organization Of
separate army corps in districts with annual
naneuvres but they do not agree upon tho
practical efficiency of the proposed system with
out conscription. The trend of military opinion
is strongly in the direction of universal military
service, but the ministry does not venture to
propose it, advocating rather the adoption OF
tentative scheme for six army corps. with sys-
tematic use OF the reserves. both the militia and
the volunteers. Before the war in South Africa
the headquarters staff pIumed itself upon it's
ability to mobilize and send abroad two army
corps as soon sea transport could be pro-
vided. One dispatched without serious de-
lay. and Mr.. Brodrick now estimates that during
eighteen months. with one-half from the col
onies. six corps have been brought into the field
He now proposes a plan by which three corps.
with cavalry and artillery, shall always be in
readiness for an emergency, with decentral-
lied administration and annual manceuvres in
six districts Singularly enough the first army
corps sent TO South Africa was not kept to-
gether. and as the war proceeded the divisional
system was abandoned and the army reorgan-
ized into brigades in order get rid OF red tape.
1t is strange that Mr.. Brodrick should propose
six Aldershots when one broke down in South
Africa under the sheer weight Of red tape. While
military men applaud the Secretary of War and
declare. under their breath. that he is deliber-
ately opening the way, for conscription. there
are already undertones of dissatisfaction over
the growth of militarism and the neglect Of off,
cials 70 profit by the real lessons of the cam
paign, such as lack Of adaptability and fexibili-
ty OF officers. inefficiency of s,aff work. igno-
rance Of the art Of making intrenchments. rigid
ity of the transport service. defects in the
tillery. dependence upon infantry when mount
ed forces were Indispensable. and the supreme
value of the auxiliary reserves provided by
Australia and Canada. Aldershot was on trial
at CoIenso and Magersfontein and failed; and
now there will be six AIdershots. with German
and French manPuvres on a scale out Of propor-
tion TO the resources of the voluntary system.
II is easy for him to work out scheme on
paper but veterans know that the men will not
be forthcoming 70 f1 out by voluntary enlist
ment six army corps While there is a sense OF
unreaIity about this paper scheme of military
reorganization. the increased cost is a real
enough addition to the expense of the army.
On a peace footing it Will be f1OOO0O00. with
no prospect of any dninution in the future; and
this increment is proposed when the army esti-
mates for next year are fSS.OOOOOO with pro-
vision for only four months military operations
in South Africa and when the lowest figures for
the aggregate cost OF the war approximate
t15OOG0 600. or considerably more than double
the expense of the Crimean campaign Whether
or not Mr.. Brodrick be dealing with imaginary
soldiers in his scheme for reorganized army.
the piper must be paid and the tax gatherer
must put on the screws
The Chancellor of the Exchequer is expected
to propose in his budget speech an enormous
bulk of fresh taxation, and at the same time to
float loan ranging from f40,OO0.OO0. at the
lowest estimate 10 f54 100000 which will be
nearer the truth. Free traders OF the Golden
school are insisting that he must add fCurpence
or sixpence to the income and reduce the
limit of exemption to f10O. shrewder financial
experts warning him against this course
and advising him TO borrow f54, 100000 since he
can repay il by the operation of the sinking
fund in six years. with the present scale of taxa
tion. Other experts emphatic in declaring
that income taxation has reached the point OF
exhaustion. especially as trade is hampered and
showing signs of decline, and as the suspension
cf the gold output of South Africa has caused a
stringency in the money market. and they are
advocating revenue duties sugar and other
articles Of general consumption. Sir Michael
Hcks-Beach is probably the most perplexed
and unhappy man IN the United Kingdom. for
whatever he suggests will be condemned as in
adequate and oppressive Mr. Chamberlain
alone would have the courage required for
financing the war. He would strike the frlpe-
REALISTIC note in proposing tariff with large
increase in indirect taxation. and the basis for q
zollverein within the empire Sir Michael Hicks
Beach is old school free trader who cannot
be depended upon to open the way for imperial
federation. He loses sight of the colonies just as
Mr.. BrOdrick does in reorganizng the army
without availng himself Of the auxiliary re-
serves which have saved the situation in South
Africa
In the great battle for the empire foreign
affairs now escape the observation Of the Eng
lish press. unless the German Emperor IS PER-
sonaly concerned in them. What is going on IN
China is not understood. save as DIR. Morrison
throws a si1eIIght upon it in The Times" One
anomaly in European policy follows another ar
Pekng, the last one being the necessity for the
permanent fortifcatiOn of the embassies, while
the court. by a vasary of the diplomatic imagi-
nation. is left free and independent of foreign
influence
American affairs. such as the inauguration OF
President Mckinley and the failure OF the
canal treaty, pass almost unnotlced. There Is
no unfriendress 10 America. hut a clear per-
ception of the increasing pressure of American
competition in trade and the magnitude of yne
financial resources behind Yankee enterprise
The newspapers are filed with references to the
displacement of English goods in the home mar
ket by American importations Just as there
We're similar tributes To German enterprise five
years ago. Financiers are expecting that Amer
lean bankers will carry off a large proportion OF
the new loan, even if it be put on the market In
May, when money is expected To be easy; and tho
completion of the underground system in Lon