REDUCTION OF THE ARMY.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VI, Issue 509, 19 June 1850, Page 3

REDUCTION OF THE ARMY.

The following is a copy of the memorandum which has been issued by the Adjutant-Gene-ral, on the subject of the proposed reduction of the Army ,—, — Horse Guards, February 6. — Her Majesty having been pleased to approve of a further reduction in the Infantry from the 31st of March next the following are the arrangements under which it is to be carried into effect, viz. : — First, the sth, 20th, 36th, 42nd, 44th, 45tb, 56th, 67th, 69th, 76-h. and two battalions Rifle Brigade, to be respectively reduced from 1,200 to 1,000 rank and file, and consolidated into one battaliou. The supernumerary officers of these regiments-will be retained on the strength of their present corps "en second," with the exception of the surgeons and quar-ter-masters, who will be placed on half-pay. The second Adjutants will remain in their lanks of Lieutenant or Ensign, as the case may, be. The Commanding-officer will proceed at once under the superintendence and direction of the general officer commanding on the station, to cany out the proposed reduction, as far as may be necessary and practicable, after 'deducting invalids, by the immediate discharge of such supernumerary noncommissioned officers and men as may be desirous to quit the service for the purpose of settling in the colonies, or who can procure the means of providing for tbeir removal to England, without subjecting the public to ex- | pense. Tbese regiments will henceforth have on ] y nominal depots, such as those maintained [ by regiments in India, consisting of a captain, who will, as heretofore, have charge of the regimental records (assisted when necssary, by one or two lieutenants, and five sergeants, and five corporals, detatched from the regiment). Secondly, the 6th Regiment will be reduced from 1200 to 750 rank and file — the reserved battalion being lormed into an ordinary four company depot of 210 rank and file (with -such additional number as may be required to make up the establishment of the regiment) and the whole of ihe supernumerary officers placed on half-pay, and such of the non-com-missioned officers and men as are not inclined to transfer their services to other corps will be discharged. Thirdly, the 1 lth, 58th, and 65th Regiments will be reduced from 1000 to 750 rauk and file, and in like manner formed into six services and four depot companies. The reduction of these regiments to 540 rank and' file (the establishment of the service companies) irill, as far as practicable, be effected by the discbarge on the spot of such non-commis-sioned officers tod men as may be desirous of

being released f • ona the service, with • Tiew of becoming settlers, or who have the means of providing their own passage to England, sending home the proper establishment of officers and non-commissioned officers to organise the regimental depot. Lastly, the depots of the Ist battalion Royals, 7th, 16th, 19th, 34th, 38th, 54th, 66tb, 72nd, 73rd, 79th, 88th, 95th, and one battalion Rifle Brigade, will respectively he reduced from 230 to 210 rank and file, which will readily be effected by discontinuing recruiting until the new establishment shall be attained. The men to be voluntarily discharged, as above directed, will of course receive all the advantages they may be entitled to claim under the provisions of her Majesty's warrant, according to the length and nature of their service : but care must be taken to select those for discharge, in preference, who have been found generally the least efficient soldiers and whom, therefore, it may be deemed the least desirable to retain. The reduction will thus amount to 2680 men. By command, John Macdonald, A.G.