Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-03-12
IT rs TOO EXPENSIVE
ERNEST BECKETT, MINISTERIAL
IsT, LEADS THE ONSLAUGHT.
Backed Up by Maj. seely of Same
Party - London News
and Gossip.
,necial Correspopdsnce Of rhe Erening Star.

the most interesting The first night pre-
scented a great sight and the house of COM
mons was crowded to suffocation. 1t was
dramatic scene, with vision of the tragic
in the background-the possible defeat Of
the government through the kicking Of its
own supporters. There have been fire and
vigor In the speeches; hard things have
been said; taunts have been scattered
Something perilously near an impeachment
of Mr.. St. John Brodrick as war minister
has been the strain Of the talk.
Tory and radical alike have hammered
him. There he sat on the treasury bench,
a stubborn man, not taking notes, but witt.
his chin on his chest and little knot of the
brows between the eyes, his face white,
and when he spoke, with dry, snappy
huSkiness in his voice. Now and then he
jumped to his feet and almost viciously
contradicted his foes.
The house was expectant. There was that
CULVER OF suppressed emotion which Is al
ways felt on momentous nights. The am
bassadors' gallery was packed with the
representatives of foreign powers. Peers
elbowed one another into crowd. Lord
Rosebery, flushed, large-eyed, his gloved
hands clasped beneath his chin, sat side by
side with Lord Roberts. whose face. lined
with strenuousness, showed just over the
balustrade Of the gallery. Behind rose tiers
of commoners. In dark recesses beyond
odd glimpse could be caught of punches of
feminine headgear.
Onslaught by Ministerial Party.
An amendment to the address in reply to
the speech from the throne is regarded as
vote Of censure on the government The
opposition. party Of political hypochon-
drtacs, had not the health to make a bold
onslaught; but an onslaught was made,
rolo md
the ministerial side. An army reform party
has grown up among the conservatives, dis
satisfied with Mr.. Brodrick. dissatisfied
with the war Office dissatisfied with the
kind Of army which Is being offered to the
country for Its money. 1t was that party
which put forward an amendment to the
address. saying that the organization of
the land forces Is unsuited to the needs OF
the empire, and that no proportionate gain
in strength and efficiency has resulted from
the recent increases in military expendi-
ture.
The curtain was rung up with laugh.
At first the war minister was not to be
seen, but Lord Stanley, financial secretary
to the war Office. hale and hearty, full
checked and merry, was stretching his
sturdy form on the treasury bench, well
content with this most excellent world
Somebody bounced upon him. WHY was 1t
that the war office return about the army
corps had been given to the newspapers be-
fore 1t was presented to parliament? Lord
Stanley got up. stuck his hands in his pock-
cts, looked round with a broad smile and
said jovially: Really. don't know. I'VE
been away for two or three days"
The picture of big, bucolic, amiable off,
cial of the war office really not knowing
what was happening because he had been
enjoying a weekend in the country tisked
the house. There was blaze Of laughter
There was rustic followed by q murmur
of a cheer. Mr.. Ernest Beckett was to fire
the first shot. He was below the gangway
whiph a of Ind
round about him was a. throng of men who
supported him. A certain eagerness
rapidity Of diction, now and then slurred
word suggested personal agitation. But
otherwise he was calm. almost frigid in
manner. There were no heroics no decla-
nation, nothing in the way Of oratory. Yet
1t was one of the most brilliant speeches
heard In the house during recent years.
There was a literary touch, a rareness in
his talk, which had its effect. But what
struck him most and hushed the house. and
spurred 1t into laughter, was the quiet re-
lentlessness of the logic and the vitriolic
acidity of the satire. So he stood among
his friends palish scsnt-haired man of
about fifty. with quick eyes One hand was
behind his back; the other clutched a bunch
of blue slips on which his notes were writ
ten. Now and then he shook them In the
direction Of the war minister, who sat
modify. with lowered head, not far away
with Mr.. Balfour curled Enthusiastically by
his side
I'LL. DSChcLIS hSIudThS.
II claim" Mr.. Beckett declared in cres-
cendo voice, ito be as sound and loyal a
conservative as any member who rises to
defend the system which I propose to at
tack" How far from easy and how little
pleasant it must have been to make his
structures on Mr.. Brodrick-a friend Of over
twenty years standing! But surely when
you see man on course which leads to
disaster 1t is the part of a friend to warn
him of his danger
So much by way of prelude. But a Sc
verify OF tone came into his voice and an
incisveness into the manner as Mr.. Beckett
tilted at the much-discussed 9th Army
Corps. II understand the war office repu-
dates the parentage of the scheme, and
that the army looks askance at it." Bend
ing slightly forward, he added I'VE have
always thought 1t remarkable on the part
Of Jupiter that, after pains IN hts head. he
produced Minerva, but that act sinks to
insignifcance beside that Of the secretary
OF war. who. after pains In his head. pro-
duced six army corps equipped for every
thing except war; The house cheered and
laughed-all save the row of ministers who
sat stern and gray stones.
consistently. rapidly-punctuated all along
with sharp rasps Of cheers from all quar-
ters-Mr Beckett urged that too much
money Is being spent on the army: that
| there Is no need for six army corps. even
| IL we had them; that we should rely more
| on the citizens Of this country to defend
their homelanO, tnat we don't get value for
money with the army we had; that yoiun-
teering Is discouraged: that there is a lack
OF training and forethought and organiza-
ton The war office starved brains. II
didn't want information. Information was
| suspected unless 1t was, tied up with red
| tape and stamped with the official stamp.
Reverts to the Six Corps.
Time and again. when Mr.. Beckett took
| up another point. he came back to the six
| army corps. They stirred his humor, grim
and biting. 1.-THE army corps are perfect
| so long as you don't ask them to go any
where or do anything" 1.-TWO years ago
| the war minister came down like the poet,
with his eye In fine frenzy rolling, to giro
these airy nothings a local habitation and
a name. THE war Office lies Hike a
nightmare on the chest Of the army" Now
and then, after the swing of the saber of
| satire. his voice was raised, and there was
a culver of delicate nostrils. 1.-THE country
/ is getting tired of this policy of mess, mud
| die and make-believe." he declared at one
| point, and a cheer rang for half minute
[ Toward the end of his speech. not by ora
| torical arts but by the grip of sincerity,
Mr.. Beckett held the house In silence
| great issue was before the nation. 1T ID