THE BRITISH ARMY.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIII, Issue 7983, 10 March 1906, Page 5

THE BRITISH ARMY.

GOVERNMENT'S MILITARY POLICY. "ARMY NEV'ER MORE • EFFICIENT." Received March 10, 12 a.m. LONDON, March 9. In the House of Commons, Mr R. B. Haldane, Secretary of State, War Department, in explaining the Government's military polioy, admitted that the Army was never more offloient than at the present time. It was impossible to make eoonomies beyond seventeen thousand men without impairing the fighting efficiency. He did not inteud to abolish any home battalions, believing that the Navy was able to defend the shores. He intended to abolish out-of-date London defences and useless coastal forts, reduce the colonies' garrisonß, and disband the native regiment at Wei-hi-wei. The size of the mobile striking force for oversea service must depend largely upon the requirements of Jndia. it was impossible to reduce tbe striking force unless a system existed of enabling rapid expansion in oase of need. He hoped to see more men voluntarily learn the elements of training, holding that volunteers, cadet corps, and rifle clubs ought to encourage manhood in the country, and ought to be the skeleton of an organisation oapable of being clothed in flesh at war time. The militia needed improvement. By the end of May two army corps would be armed with new field guns. Great progress was made in arming the troops with the short rifles.