THE BRITISH ARMY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8157, 14 July 1906, Page 3

THE BRITISH ARMY.

THE GOVERNMENT'S SCHEME. WHOLESALE REDUCTIONS AND REORGANISATION. MnJTIA LIABLE FOR FOREIGN SERVICE. VOLUNTEERS FOR HOME DEFENCE. Received 13, 9.26 p.m. Los cos. July 13. Mr R. B. Haldane explained the Cabinet'! army scheme. Britain meant to lead the movement for the redaction of the crashing harden of armaments with whole-hearted concurrence. The Army [Council proposed to reduce the Regulars by twenty thousand. They would then be able to keep prepared during peace aiJd to mobilise in war time an expeditionary force of a hundred and ifty-feur thousand, comprising six division* of infantry, with four cavalry brigades, ten batteries (horse), sixtythree batteries of field artillery, equaling three army corps, composed roughly of fifty thousand regulars, •evenly thousand reservists, and thirty thousand trained on a militia basis.

The lite Government, he said, had provided excellent new field guns and horse artillery, but only sufficient men to mobilise forty-two batteries. The Government intended to utilize for ammunition columns and artillery reserve thirteen thousand Garrison Mintiamra, released from the duties of coast defence, thus effecting a saving of three hundred thousand a year, betides doubling the efficiency of the artillery. Old field guns were to be converted into quick-firers and issued to the volunteers. Horse artillery and cavalry,remained untouched It was intended to dispense with the third battalion of Scots' Guards, the third battalion of Coldstreams, and also to abolish the third and fourth battalions of Northumberland and Lancashire Fusiliers, the Warwickshires, Manchester Regiment, and to reduce the Irish Guards. The Rrserves will amount to one hundred and twenty-two thousand by the end of the year. Militia be Temtorialued must go abroad in case j of Arar, and volunteers will be organised j for the defence of Naval ports, and given definite functions in each district.