THE BRITISH ARMY.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9671, 20 December 1909, Page 4

THE BRITISH ARMY.

It is satisfactory to find competent critics endorsing the opinion to which the nation jumped after the recent army manoeuvres that at least we have an army steadily improving, and capable of still more improvement as its good points develop in the future. Tnree obviously wellinformed though unofficial spectators of the manoeuvres eive their impressions in the "National Defence," and they are distinctly cheering reading. "The general impression left upon the minds at the recunt manoeuvres is, on the whole, pretty much in accord with the verdict of the experts and of the correspondents of the press. Thera can be no doubt

that the British army has improved to a notable extent as the result of the last four years' work. The flexibility of infantry companies and cavalry squadrons for tactical pur» poses, the services of information and security, the marching power of all arms, but particularly of the infantry, and the capacity displayed for living in bivouac [on short commons and in rough weather, have excited general admiration. The army is better organised,,better equipped, better armed, and to a considerable extern composed of better material, than it has ever been before. Above all, it is in good heart with itself, snd the country is in good humour with it." There is wisdom, however, in the warning of these critics that our army must be held to be good, bad, or indifferent, not in comparison with Aldershot or Delhi in the 'nineties, but in comparison with the best Continental forces of today. "Judged by that standard, we have still much leeway to make up. While a great improvement W&f

noticeable in the work of the com~ panies and their leaders in the fielaj even these cannot yet be said to have reached the uniform standard of excellence of the German ,'