LORD RANDOLPH CHURCHILL ON THE ARMY AND NAVY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1592, 9 June 1887, Page 1

LORD RANDOLPH CHURCHILL ON THE ARMY AND NAVY.

London, June 5,

Great sensation was caused by 'he speech i't’ Lord Randolph Churchill at Wolverhampton last night, in which he unsparingly attached tbs administration of the English array and n*vy. He asserted the expenditun annually increased, and that miCi- na were wasted every year in the most wanton manner through the utter incapuci'y of officials and tbe grossest mismanagement. In 1875 the army coat fourteen millions and a-half, while in 1886 the amount bad swollen to eighteen and a-balf millions. The naval cxi euditare had increased from eleven millions in 1875 to twelve and a-balf last year. These enormous increases had been accompanied by steady delerbraiinn in fighting capacity. The English army only numbered 150,000, 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 ofsoldiers in an equal state of effectiveness. 'lhe armaments of the fortresses of England were not to be depended on. Both cannon and ships were behind the age. The Commissariat was faulty, and incapacity was rampant everywhere. As an instance, he cited the scandalous offer of the officials to protect the important position of King George’s Sound wi<h obsolete muzzle-loaders, By making a thorough revolution in the pertonnel of the Army and Navy Departments, it would be possible to effect a saving of millions annually and at the same time to secure an improvement' in both branches of the service. Lord Randolph Churchill also touched on the prevailing depression in Great Britain, and contended that tbe State should contribute towards the alleviation of the nation&l distress. The purest policy was economy, but the true remedy, be added, was to broaden the basis of the State revenue by an extension of the tariff on such lines that, while securing additional revenue, it would appease the demands of fair traders without offending freetraders.