New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-07-25
ARMY REFORMS.
Dir. ArnOId- Forsfer's Method of Re-
dEcing Military Expenses.
London, July IA

1t has been assumed by many writer's that thu
physical conditions Of the masses In Germany,
France and Italy have been improved by MILL
tary service and that the processes of detertora-
ton in England have been FASTENED in conss-
quence of exempting men from it, Probably
a series of reports will be required before the
advocates of CONSUMPTION can be convinced that
they are wrong this point: and on the Con-
tinent. where the advantages Of systematic
drilling discipline. exercise and regular hours
and meals have been explained by martinets for
two generations the falacy that men become
more vigorous in body and more valuable as
wage earners after three years service IN thu
army will not be easily pricked. Yet the de-
partrnental committee which has been investf-
eating the subject finds the physique Of Ger
mans and FrencEmen to be distinctly worse
than that of the population Of Great Britain
Deterioration there has been in England IN con-
sequence Of the emptying of the rural popula-
ton into factory towns. where men have had
less exercise in the open air and have lived IN
overcrowded tenement house quarters; but 1t has
been arrested by sanitary reforms. the clearance
OF slums and improvement In the conditions Of
life. The physical standard after declining for
a generation has been raised without the help
OF military training for men. whereas the
Continent there Is a steady and uninterrupted
decline The text OF the report must be awaited
conclusions can be ascertained; but 1T is evident
that the martinets will have TO invent some
plea for CONSUMPTION plausible than the
physica. argument. Barrack life. with It's pa
rade ground drill and field manCeuvres. does not
raise the standards OF health and vigor among
workingmen- The committee does not take up
the question OF mental stimulus and moral BEN
eft from military service; but II IS doubtful IL
character be strengthened by 1t. and It Is we'll
pendence of Judgment are impaired by it. Con-
script soldiers may be drilled and disciplined
until they become machines. but they are not
helped as future artisans and workers when
they acquire habits of obedience. Military life
puts them out of the way Of thinking for them
selves; and to that extent they less valu-
able as wage earners
Ministers have been convinced that the coun-
try would not sanction military CONSUMPTION
even IN the modified form of compulsory service
IN the militia the Swiss plan Instead Of
accepting the conclusion OF the commission on
the auxiliary forces that enormous army
recruited by universal service IS needed for
home defence and reserves for emergencies they
have allowed Mr.. Arnold-Forster to recommend
a reduction in all the organized military forces
OF the Crown. The volunteers. the militia the
reserves and the regular army itself are to be
materially weakened IN battalions and officers
II this energetic reformer speaks with the au-
thority Of united Cabinet: and these drastic
measures TO be carried out not merely for
the sake OF retrenchment Of expenses. but main
| ~ on the ground Of efficiency. The times have
changed since the Boer war. when that amiabls
optirnist Mr.. Wyndham was wont to describe
the orderly and automatic stiffening OF bat
talions by drafts from the reserves and militia
at short notice. When six divisions had been
sent to South Africa he could explain that there
were many battalions in barracks at home
as there were at the outbreak OF the war; and
when dozen battalions OF militia had been
shipped abroad there were fifty IN reserve with
100000 volunteers behind them That was the
CHEEKY optirnists method Of proving that Eng
land could send great army across seas with
out leaving the United Kingdom defenceless;
but now it Is the pessirnist's turn to blurt out
the truth that the military system broke down
completely when IT was subjected to serious
strain.
When the emergency came IN South Africa
there was no committee Of defence IN readiness
to give the Cabinet sound advice respecting the
requirements Of the campaign. and there was no
general staff trained for warfare. There was the
War Office. with the reserves. militia and volun-
teers behind It: and the battalions were mo-
bilized. stiffened and dispatched to South Africa
with a fair degree of efficiency. The War Office
and the territorial army between them saved
the situation, but neither the officials nor the
soldiers escaped censure Long before hostilities
were at an end there were shriu public demands
for the reform of the War Office. a clean sweep
OF officials and old soldiers and the reorganiza-
ton of the military system The processes Of
reform did not cease even when the War
Office emptied and the ground Ievelled- The
| militia and volunteers themselves are now at
tackled with the plea that too much money IS
expended upon them and that they are notO-
riously inefficient for home defence. Report has
followed report and everything has been
| changed; but there is little constructive work
| There is a new committee OF defence, with en-
/ larged functions and more competent military
| and naval advisers: there IS army board
/ closely patterned after the admiralty; there IS
a small staff Incapable Of doing the work Of the
German general staff. and there Is army
which cannot be recruited to its normal strength
/ nor properly trained for the business OF war
These meagre results have been secured AFTER
four years of persistent agitation and strenuous
reform.
| Mr. Arnold Forster. who IS now undertaking
TO reform the army into state of efficiency
has two objects in view. lie wishes TO save
| money and 10 obtain recruits for foreign SER
| vice. He retrenches expenses mainly by cut
ting down the muster rolls of the regular army,
militia and volunteers. and looping of those
least qualified TO take the field against hostile
force He reduces the Foot Guards ninety-tour
men battalion and the infantry at home fifty
men battalion; he strikes off fourteen bat
talons of the line and five garrison battalions;
he discontinues militia enlistment for the re-
serves and cuts down the garrisons in the colo
No he he ISL Of