BRITAIN'S DEFENDERS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 166, 18 July 1904, Page 3

BRITAIN'S DEFENDERS.

THE NEW DUAL ARMY SCHEME. LONDON, July 15. - In the House of Commons the Right Hon. H. 0. Arnold-Forster (Secretory for War) explained the new army scheme. It proposes to divide the regulars into two armies. The first will police the empire, conduct small wars and bear the first brunt o* larger ones, lit will be disposed entirely according to strategical requirements, without regard to a rigid system of linking. It will be chiefly abroad, only a proportion being kepi at home for the convenience of circulation and to provide a strong force of 15,000 at Aldorshot. The period Xer service will be nine years with tbe colours and three with the re- " serves. The second army will be for home service. It will only go abroad in case of important wars, and will be . strictly territorialised. Tbo period ot sarvics will be two years with the colours, na siz years ia the reserves. Mr Amold-Forster proposes 90 or 100 of tha present -battalions for general service in the army. After ■jboUsbihg 14 of the recently-raised Battalions and five battalions of the garrison regiments, he will convert tits remaining 40 battalions into borne service battalions on an establishment of only 500 men. While profoundly dissatisfied with tbe militia, he did' not propose to abolish it. Ha des-Tibed the volunteers as the « test material for the army. Hepro- ' posed to reduce the volunteers to 180,000 efficients. Of these 60,000 would be highly-trained, receiving a higher grant. There would be 120,- > 000 of lower efficiency, requiring less Sacrifice of time and a smaller grant. .Ho proposes to give rifle clubs • '£50,000 annually for ammunition. The Times says the proposals do not constitute a final solution of the problem, but are an important ad- : v .vance in the right direction.