THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. SATURDAY, MARCH 6, 1880.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3494, 6 March 1880, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. SATURDAY, MARCH 6, 1880.

Oub late calograms from England stated that the Army Estimates bad passed the House of Commons without opposition, a very significant fact, either pointing out that the Government have a good working majority, or that the wants of the department are so patent that the expenditure asked for is admitted by the House as absolutely necessary. The leading English papers have frequently of late called attention to the state of the army, and admitted that it was not in a fit state to take the field— a very unpleasant fact in the face of the rumors of war with Russia. Great Britain is, however, differently situated from most' European nations, and has difficulties to contend with not felt by other States, one of the greatest being the disinclination of the right stamp of men to recruit her army,, that is, with the inducements at present offered. The Government have got down to the very last stratum of the labour market for their supply, and are keeping up with great difficulty, and only by sacrificing' every former standard of age and physique —the supply of about 18,000 recruits a year that are required to maintain her army at its weakest peace establishment. It would take at least 40,000 men to complete the seventy home battalions alone to war strength. For this purpose we have only a reserve of about 10,000 men who have passed through the , line, and a nominal reserve of about 25,000 more men of the Militia, who are under engagement to be transferred to the line if required. The Artillery is much below its establishment, the Guards—always a favorite branch, wants nearly '2,000 men; our Cavalry stands at 400 sabres to a regiment, about the average strength or two foreign squadroons. Reserves of men and horses for it, we have none. Thus were we dragged into war to-morrow, we should begin it with our home regiments alone some 12,000 men short. Not a man could be spared from thtr-" Colonies or India, indeed the former would reqire immediate reinforcements. Fully one fourth" of the army are not of age and maturity for hard work, and would fill the hospitals : in a month. As for means for supplying the casualties of war as they arose, whith might be calculated at 10 per cent per month, w.e have absolutely none. To any close observer it is evident that the old supply of men under, the present system is worked out. The question is entirely one of the labor market. Why should a man serve abroad at Is a ddy, with all the risks of war, climate, and exile, when he can get; from 2s 6d to 5s a day in England, with all the comforts of freedom, home, and family? Any attempt to return to the old system of pensions would be a failure, or else the Government would have to more than double them. A shilling a day for life now does not nearly represent what sixpence did 20 years ago,, and there is no hope that things will improve in this respect. A temporary ; depression of wages will only prove-the rule more .strongly. Wages and prices will continue to rise with the increasing wealth of the Old, Country, and never more shall we get the stalwart soldier of the Crimean times except under an entire reconstruction of the system. How can the army be made a career for the working; man? By reversing the course pursued hitherto. We have been buying the best 21 years of a man's life, and then leaving him, often broken in health, to eke out his existence on Is a day. Our wisest policy w6al<L_be. to-mak© ifc-wbrth a" man's While to serve four or five years-with the colours, six or seven with the reserve, and then return to civilJife, and the means to this end would be to make his line service the time of his probation, the reserve service his time of reward. The solution of this problem would be guaranteed employment in civil life while in there serve, j Every railway; canal, or gas company that comes to Parliament for its Act should be obliged by a clause inserted therein, to keep a number of vacancies forreserve men. The Government would then know exactly where to lay their hands on reserve men in case of war. The employer would hare a certain number of menj on whom he could thoroughly rely on account of the double guarantee of their bond to the- State. The State ought to take into its own hands, entirely and absolutely, the patronage of all those thousands of small places in subordinate Government! and Civil employ which are now jobbed away by private patrons. In the Customs, the Post Office, and the Excise, as j warden of gaols, porters and messengers in public offices, guards on railways, our old aoldiers ought to find as a matter of right, placeß reserved on the termination of their lervice for persons who have deserved well of their country. Such a! national question ought to over-ride all petty considerations, of political influence

influence aad private jobbery. Auyoue v' who has seen the Court at Berlin must have remarked, on state occasions, every | servant of the household, from the highest to the lowest, of many hundreds, displaying proudly on his breast the medals of two or three campaigns. Such are the brief heads of a practical rclorin for the regular armvy, but we have rot touched on the keystone of the whole fabric, the only means in fact-—and which must come sooner or later—of putting our mil*'* tary system on a footing of national safety.