THE BRITISH ARMY

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2119, 29 June 1907, Page 2

THE BRITISH ARMY

United Presß Association Copyright UUNDON, June 2/. The Territorial Army BUI was reau a second tune in tne House of Lords. While arguing that no scheme was adequate uidess based on universal training, Lord Roberts declared tliac iVir. Haideno’s scheme was of very I high merit, and a great advance upon anything we had had hitherto possessed. tie was unable to see how a much Hotter scheme could be devised I wicliin tlie limits described.

With its third reading pussod, the British Army Bill is practically safe, as the House of Lords has no powei to alter it. The aim of the War Minister has been to improve the rnobolisatiou of the regular army. At present, though the army comprised /id/,000 regular soldiers, not more than three divisions, or some 75,00 b men, could be speedily mobilised. Such a force would be too weak to meet the requirements of the first hours of war. Under his scheme as introduced, Mr. Haldane proposed to raise the force capable of instant mobilisation to 100,000 men. This would more than double the numbci of trained soldiers available in the lirst week of war, and would mean a great advance upon the past. Attached to the regular army, and really forming its reserve, will in future he a force known as the special contingent, 78,500 . strong, composed of men who will have six months’ training as recruits, and will bo liable to foreign servico on mobilisation. , The simplification of the auxiliary forces is a striking and excellent characteristic of Mr. Haldane s scheme. At present the Militia, Vollunteers, and Yeomanry are all independent formations, with various conditions of service, bidding against each other for recruits, and with no co-ordination and little organisation. Mr. Haldane proposed to unify this chaotic body of 350,000 men, and to evolve from it a force of 300,0UU homogeneous and organised troops. Volunteers and Militia will he merged in the new territorial arm.y, and will constitute fourteen divisions,, to which the Yeomanry will supply the cavalry. The new County Associations which are to be formed win administer and manage this bod- ot troops under the supervision of the Army Council. They will undertake all financial responsibilities, ana relieve the Volunteer colonels of the grievous burden which lias hitherto been placed upon the shoulders of the commanders of Volunteer units. The command and training of the terra torial army will be in the hands o! the generals commanding the various districts, and the period of service m camp will be from eight to fifteen days each year. Capitation grants will be abolished and payment will be I made to the officers and men at service rates, on th© basis of fifteen days’ pay for each man on the effecAt the instance of Mr. Balfour, Mr Haldane modified his scheme so as to bring the greater part of the Militia force in England and Scotland into line with the Irish Militia, making the force available to supply drafts land serve as units of the regular armv.