Army Reform.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume III, Issue 151, 18 May 1901, Page 4

Army Reform.

London, May 14. In the House of Coalmens Mr Brodncjc >l! moved the second reading of the pron posal for the reoiganisatiou of the army, is' Sic H. 0 Bannerman moved an 3, amendment affirming that the scheme waa not adapted .to the special nee Is cf -the Empi'.e and would increase the e burdens of the taxpayer without adding ;t to the Empire’s military strength. E-e S contended that the army corps scheme was too rigid a system, and w. s likely to be interpreted as an aggressive one, 1 as increased armaments dominated the policy outlined. s The Right Hon. George defended the main features of the Bill, ; especially the decentralisation idea. L'h.j ; ' work would bo placed in the hands of i ; six generals with South African expert- ■, : ence. Sir Charles Dilke said that he favoured ■ decentralisa- ioo. I Mr Winston Churchill said ho feared \ that the scheme would involve danger to ; the navy, which would thereby bo : rendered uselessly weak and the army uselessly strong. , ' May 15. i Several speakers urged a higher rate ■> of pay for the army. Sir H. C. Banner- ; man was charged wit,h introducing thp i element of a mere party fight. Lord Stanley declared that most of tbp , speakers were agreed in regard to three requisites, viz.-—Reform of the defence of the Motherland, the defence of the colonies, and the mobile force fo.r which could be ready instantly to cooperate with the navy. The Government. he said, was introducing a scheme to secure for the colonies the same class of men as tha Imperial Yeomanry, with the same regulation) and the same name, : which a portion of the force had certainly ' helped to make historic. Sir J. C. R. Colotnb said that it was costly scheme based on traditional ground less than on the dread of invasion. Hp recommended the consolidation and coordination of the Empire’s defences.