New-York tribune., 1903-02-23
BRITISH ARMY REFORM.
Mr.. BRODRICK'S SCHEME.
Opposition to AssaiI 1t Ugorousiy-
The Ne7cs of London.

special to The New-York Tribune by French Cable0
Copyright: 1903: BY The Tribune Association)
London. Feb %. I a. m.-Mr Brodricks much
criticised and inept army corps scheme will be
assailed from both sides Of the House of Com
mons to-day. Mr.. Beckett. Conservative Mem
ber for Whtby, will lead the assault from the
Ministerialist side of the House by moving an
amendment to the address regrettng that the
organization of Great Brtain's land forces is un-
suited to the needs of the nation. This amend
ment will have the support of large number
of Unionists including Winston Churchill. They
threaten to vote against Mr.. Brodrick, but
whether their courage will remain at the stick
ing point is rather. doubtful. The War Secre--
tary is a first class fighting man, and his conf
dence In his scheme is described as being un
shaken but his ostrichlike attitude is hardly
likely to mollify the anger of the malcontents.
Mr.. Balfour saved the government over the
London and Globe scandal, and much will de
pend on his attitude to-day. Should he make 1t
clear that the ministers have proper apprecia-
ton of the important question of national de-
fence he will succeed in winning over the NAL
contents who in the Opposition camp.
The Radicals are however. determined to stick
to their guns and will be satisfied with nothing
short of Mr. Brodrick's retirement from Office.
The ministerial whips an sorely exercised over
the smallness of the government majorities in
of parties at the present moment gives the gov
ernment an advantagt of 12G. but the whips ex-
perience difficulty in getting the men together.
There have been four divisions in all on the ad-
dress since the session began and the majorites
ranged from fifty-one to thirty-eight. In view
of the threatened detection of a number of
Unonists of the rank and file on the army de-
bate to-day, urgent sumnonses have been issued
to the supporters of the government to be IN
their places when the division bell rings. Mr..
Balfour is undoubtedly anxious he fully
realizes that under the conditions which pre-
vailed last week the transfer of a score of
Unionist votes would place the government in
the minority
The Austrian and Russian ambassadors
Saturday presented identical notes to the Porte
on the reform question IL Macedonia The
Constantinope correspondent of The Daily
Telegraph says the reforms suggested contain
nothing Objectionable 70 the Sultan or the gov
ernment, and make no distinction of religion or
race They include the nomination by the
Sultan of an inspector general for fixed term
of three years, with extensive powers and the
right of requistion OF troops when necessary,
and power to act without referring to the Porte
or the Palace The scheme provides for the bet
ter collection of taxes and for the proceeds to
be paid into specially created branches of the
Ottoman Bank for distribution to the proper de-
partments and the regular payment of officials:
also for the reorganization of the police and
gendarmery under European instructors.
The Cunard company is reported to be finding
preat difficulty in getting shipbuilders to under
take the construction of the new liners, owing
TO the clause in the proposed contracts that the
builders shall guarantee the new vessels TO have
n speed of twenty-five knots hour for twelve
hours.
Londoners very proud of their police force,
which they consider the finest in the world. and
they are always pleased when foreign police
offices send representatives to how vehicu-
lar traffic is controlled in LoAdon's busy streets.
New York police, who Was a witness of the
Kings procession 10 Parliament last week. was
asked before his departure for Paris to state
how the conduct of London street traffic
pared with that of New-York. He replied:
Better; much better Where need reform
is at the busiest centres, AT such places the
traffic moved % per cent quicker In London
lation that between 10 o'clock In the morning
and in the evening carriers we're not allowed 10
back up to the sidewalk IN busy places and Load
or unload or make any delivery of coal, casks or
/ heavy freight. This is what have got 10
come TO- and II is of the changes which, il
seems to me- viii have 10 be very radical"