New-York tribune., 1906-07-31
r[7LLSH ARMY REFORMS
:, FaIdane's PGradOres, zcitb Hard
Sense Behind Them.
Tondon. rr,lu 1A

/ ave been three reorganization schennea
-..ve been padded with paper so as to pro-
Il increased cost skeleton corps without
rvstematic arrangements for foreign SER
I'd home defence without an available ex-
@o,a-y force IN sight for an emergency. The
less pretentious as scheme than either
L. Brodrick's OF Mr.. Anold-Forster's; and
lacks IN paper filing it makes I'D in
s,xes NJ HaIdane proposes to reduce the
/ -isr army by 10000 men, yet promises TO in
IS efficiency by so per cent He intends
| ve s.. 500 coo by Encouragement OF the artil-
.-s 100000 az once and SO 500. 600 ,lti-
-.,v BY reductions Of force; yet he is confident
| . .bere VIII be a better lighting machine
..urh the nation will pay less for it. He sets
ssmocracies and ki-z-iOms OF the world a
s-arv moral example bv lowering the burdens
/ -r;tarasu and ornaments: but apparently
! -illenniuIn with league Of peace. is not
/ Iii nearer, for the army is 10 be stronger
/ - ever with an organized expeditionary force
i .r5AOOo men. stifened by reservists and milf
/ nd rendered more effective for striking pur-
He expects to reinvigorate the volun-
- by providing them with quick firing guns
/ = nv bringing them into touch with county
,-nzations. so as 10 have a fair measure Of
- rule bur he has no idea OF spending any
~ money on them, nor OF removing the COM
--,-. hat they are starved TO death Mr.. Hal
hrs Is master OF paradoxes. and handles his
.,-e stock of anomalies with the skill and
ssusibility OF q able and fluent lawyer. II he
rs n0t succeed II convincing military experts
NJ everything VIII work out as favorably as he
r,ss il is not from any lack OF lucidity and
s-snsie ability n explaining his scheme Of re-
s7ns but because the country has had so mel
s-,hoy an experience with reorganization plans
A. vyodgal in promise as they have been proved
k-en II accoupIishnlent
he strongest feature Of Mr.. Haldane's pro-
sszls Is the substitution of reality for pretence
He bas perceived that a paper scheme OF skele-
~ Commands. which cannot be mobiIized TO
~ strength. s as costly as Il is wastefuI and
EFFECTIVE b compression he drops two bat
aims Of the Guards and eight Of the line. with
.uvs TWO thousand regulars from coast de-
ts1ee and reduces The depot artillery and the
Esrisons IL Gibraltar, Malta South Africa and
1sgou. ard while ten infantry battaIions are
ssbzl5ed and the number Of artillery batteries
e CIT down. The men viii not be wasted for they
I'll be used in fIing out depleted commands
Es is drawing OF useless water from an inflated
g-sism BY cutting OF wasteful specials, by using
III q the militia for garrison and artillery ser
IRE Z place OF regulars, and by introducing
giar economies. Paper estimates Of nominal
ralue are reduced, and there is a marked saving
= cost and II red tape IN undoing the work OF
As predecessors. NJ. Brodrick and Mr. Arnold
F5.sler the new War Minister is bringing back
ias British army from the realm Of official
tziun 70 prosaic fact There is less scherning in
e air and better chance OF getting the na-
.1z's moneys worth out OF the forces actually
q The ground.
L-.17.,. -,
l-d standards prevailing before the Boer war.
a-5 is making a larger use OF the militia and
1ss1ists in recruiting the strength Of the ex-
psii1Onary force available for emergencies. He
recognizes the value Of the auxiliary forces and
instead Of accepting the arguments Of military
-ar-iners for conscription is striving 10 make
he army Is efficient as possible under the
Tolunta-y system # there had been cheerier
spirit q optimism during the Boer war the
ruth would have been discerned that a system
q reserves. by which the strength OF the army
vas t-ebled IN critical emergency. had not
bslksn down Pessinlists insisted that England
had beer Llsgraced and that the military estab-
lh-len- required reconstruction from top 10 bot
taI, and refor-ners more OF less expert tried
her hands on paper schemes While veterans
were whispering il their ears, 'Conscription is
-he only resource" Mr.. EaIdane. placid in man
Ter and logical IN every inference from fact has
filed the War Office with The comfortable phil
as1phy u optimism. n rejecting conscription
Is un-E1EIish and impossible, he has set Up
1zce more The standard Of the voluntary sys-
-zn with auxiliary reserves as one which was
.sted during the Boer war and justified public
IL. Eal5ane's reforms are weakest and most
loubt-ul at the point where he might easily have
,-e-g-ae-e5 -rer-. This is the treatment OF the
olulJeers III Brodrick and Nr Arnold
'o-srer neglected This large body Of home
yards as unworthy y consideration in any
che1ue q imperial or national defence Nj
ialca1e IS 100 adroit 70 Un6errate their lr1por-
2nce but he plays with them instead Of taking
, seriously The problem Cf turning them 20
Tactical account As nearly every local inter
= has been r1uniciPalized in one section or an
taer. he has considered il = popular expedient
B place the volunteers under the control OF
1unty Officials. either nominated or elected.
'l-k The Lord Lieutenant as chairman the
ou-ty association is 70 receive It's share Of
'eas-e Parliamentary grant no larger than IL IS
present. and t1 control The management and
eve-oproert e The volunteers Of the shire. This
course IS home rule. and appeals 70 local
r6e and It may also be described as the
urlcilalizatton Of the volunteers. The borough
ad district councils, however. will never vote
enny from The rates Tor the volunteers. The
eaa-6s upon them for schools, paupers. roads
I'd improvements are already sufficient 20 ex-
aust ratahIe values. and there VIII be no dis
0siriou 70 pay the cost q what IS justly re-
aided Is q national interest-an adequate meas
Re u home defence.
There may he home rule in The control Of the
oiUnteers. and there may also be scope for COM
etuon a-rong the shires in the training and
Hciercy Of these auxiliary forces; but there
Ill be 10 money for them from the rates. The
ael,Ig q neglect VIII remain. and until that Is
smovec the volunteers cannot be expected 10
AXE their place as an important reserve for