The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. MONDAY, JUNE 13, 1887. BRITISH DEFENCES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1583, 13 June 1887, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. MONDAY, JUNE 13, 1887. BRITISH DEFENCES.

It will be remembered that the other day Lord Randolph Churchill delivered a speech m which he strongly attacked the administration of the British army and navy. He asserted that : the expenditure annually increased, and tbat millions were wasted every year m the most wanton manner through the utter incapacity of officials and the grossest mismanagement. In 1875 the army cost fourteen millions and a half, while m 1886 the amount had swollen to eighteen and a half millions. The naval expenditure had increased from eleven millions m 1875 to twelve and a half last year. Although it is pretty generally known that both these branches of the service cost more proportionately than those of continental powers, the matter is presented m .a somewhat startling light m Lord Churchill's speech. He asserted tbat while the English army, numbering only 150,000, cost eighteen and a half millions to maintain, yet Germany and France by the expenditure of twentyone and twenty-nine millions respectively were able to maintain a force of one and a half millions of soldiers m an equal state oi effectiveness. If these figures ate correct the disproportion is very startling ; and m addition Lord Churchill states that though this expenditure is increasing, it is accompanied by steady deterioration m fighting capacity. He said that the armaments of the fortresses of England were not to be depended on. Both cannon and ships were behind the age. The Commissariat was faulty. For this state of affairs hp blames the incapacity and gross mismanagement of the officials, and he maintains that m spite of the yeiy hrge annual expenditure, Britain is wholly unprepared for war. It will be readily conceded that these are very grave charges to make and m the face of the many condemnations which have made of late of the administration of *. the army and navy departments it I would be as well that a searching enquiry should be made into the whole matter. } _ !-________--___