The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-03-09
THE BRITISH ARMY
1T IS TO RE INCREASED AND RE-
ORGANIZED.
100000 FOR HOME DEFENCE.
BESIDES 10000 FDR SERVICE
ABROAD.

The Country to he Divided Into six
Districts, Each Representing an
Army COrps-The Net Addition to
the Army, Under the War secre-
tary's Plan, Would he 120,5OO Men
at a Cost of f2,0OO,O 900, and 10000
Additional Volunteers.
London, March SIN the House OF
Commons to-day Mr.. Brodrick, Secretary
for War, introduced the army estimates
for 19Oi-O2. The proposals contemplate the
dispatch abroad Of three army corps with
a division of cavalry. in all 10000 men,
and also sufficient force for home de-
fenses
The country is to be divided into six
districts, each representing an army
corps, under an officer who had "A COM
mand i'm time of war. The field artillery
must be supplemented by heavier guns.
The army needed much larger body of
mounted men and transport and the mus
kerry drill needed improving. He adhered
to the voluntary system, under which 140,-
600 men had offered themselves for the
war. Compulslon would be disastrous
The government could not hope 90 get
rid of European entanglements 1t could
not shut out the possibility of having to
dispatch forces to defend the British pos
sessions abroad
The object in dividing the country into
six districts was to centralze the RESPONSE
bility and decentralize the administration.
Three army corps Of regularls would be
faff
Ireland The other three corps, to include
sixty battalions of militia and volunteers
would be stationed at Colchester, York and
Edinburg.
The government In addition proposed to
raise eight battalons for garrison duty
from men about to enter the reserve, to
establish reserve militia and 10 raise
force of 5000 yeomanry to be armed
with short rifles and bayonets. The net
addition to the army under this scheme
would be l26.50O men at a cost OF f20O0,000
and 10000 additional trained volunteers
Mr.. Brodrtck insisted that there must
be hearty cooperating betwene the com
mander-in-chief and the Secretary for
War, and he asked that committee be
appointed to advise In regard to needed
reforms.
Mr. Brodrck said that the estimates for
the year apart from the war estimates
| amounted to f29,6S5000.
The government had already taken, on
account Of the war. the fun sum 1t ex-
pected to have asked for.
They were determined to carry the war
to a conclusion. and had not stlnted the
generals In anything.
To he Armed with Modern Guns.
Mr.. Brodrick proposes to arm the volun-
teer and militia artillery with field and
position guns OF modern pattern, TO raise
five more Indian battalions for garrison
duty, and TO transfer the garrisoning Of
coal stations to the admiralty He will
not increase the pay of the soldiers, but
will devote more time to maneuvers and
less to barrack square drills.
Under the new scheme the army for
home defence win consist of $4,000 regu-
lars. 100000 reserves 10000 militia, 5000
yeomapry and 25O0G0 volunteers.
Judging from the editorials this morn
ing the country will view the reforms
with the greatest satisfaction The gen
eral belief Is that they are so thorough
and far-reachng as betray the hand of
Lord Roberts rather than Mr.. Broderick