The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, and Echo. TUESDAY, JANUARY 18, 1898. THE BRITISH ARMY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 14, 18 January 1898, Page 4

The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, and Echo.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 18, 1898. THE BRITISH ARMY.

For the causo that lacks assistance, For the won? that needs resistance, For the futuro in tho distance, And tho good that we can do.

A recent issue of an Australian contemporary contains some extracts from a letter by Colonel Hut-ton. late Commander of: the New South Wales military forces, on the condition of the. military defences of the Empire generally. The Colonel writes from the Old Country where for some little

time now a strong agitation for a thorough reform of the army has been going on, and the War Office has been vigorously attacked for the continuance of a state of inefficiency in Her Majesty's forces which, according to some critics, is nothing short of appalling. Judging by his remarks, the Colonel, who is no mean military authority, takes a scarcely less cheerful view of the situation. 'He speaks of the military chaos and muddle which Great Britain, is now in as beyond words, and declares that to oppose the militia and volunteer foi'C.es of Great Britain to the trained levies of the Continent —a step that in the event of a great war might certainly ,have to be. taken —womld be -to cour^

disaster and disgrace. T have recently been present,' remarks the Colonel, 'at the German and French manoeuvres, both on a very large scale. One's first instinct is to compare the German and French troops with our own regular troops, a comparison which is , very strongly in favour of our British soldiers; but then the reflection dawns upon one that the real comparison is not between these national armies and our small regular armies, but between the armed millions of Europe and the defence forces of the Empire, who are composed of militia and volunteers. It is a very solemn a very humiliating reflection, but no one for a moment could doubt the result of a struggle between European troops and our auxiliary forces, ill-organised and illtrained as they are—without cohesion, without any complete military system of departments and staff, pitted against such complete, efficient and highly organised machines for war as are European armies.'

These remarks have certainly an alarmist ring about them, but whether

they exaggerate tbe true position or not they reflect faithfully enough a feeling that is' spreading- every clay in the Old Country at this moment, and they but reiterate what has been boldly stated in the leading journals at Home by men who have some claim to a hearing on these matters. No one who has read the series of letters recently addressed to the London 'Times' by Mr Arnold-Forster on the condition of the army can fail to have been struck with the facts and figures he has collected and ranges before us

in most convincing array. Before bis cold, matter-of-fact scrutiny the halo fades away from the second great palladiumof British liberty and glory. We civilians have been taught from our cradles to regard the British^army in much the same light as we have regarded the navy,as a perfeel thing-of its kind. Of course we knew that in

point of numbers it eoud not compare with the army of almost any of the European Powers, but then we were wont to console ourselves for its numerical weakness with the patriotic reflection that in point of quality and organisation it was altogether unique. In spite of the fact that science has quite revolutionised modern warfare, we still cherished in our hearts the old belief, born in the days of hand-to-hand encounters, that one Fnglishman was equal to three Frenchmen or any other foreigners any day in the week. No one questions the spirit and valour of the British soldier. At the battle of . Oargai the other day were witnessed scenes of heroism never to be forgotten, and we doubt not that so

long as there is a square yard of British territory to tight for, or a shred of the old Hag 1o light under, our countrymen will light, like Macbeth, 'till from their bones the. flesh is hacked.' But devotion and bulldog tenacity, let them be present in whatever quantity they may. will, not in these days make up for serious numerical weakness, bad organisation, and insufficient training; and from all these three serious defects the British

army is now suffering, according to its latest critic. Mr Arnold-Forster

tells us that we can place no reliance whatever on official .statistics, either as to the numbers or thecondition of the different divisions of the army. The figures giving the strength and establishment of each arm of the service are, he declares, misleading, the actual number of men we should be able to put in the field at a crisis being very much below what one gathers from the printed lists of the War Office. In point of equipment and general effectiveness, again, our army under the ciose investigation of this critic presents a very different appearance from what it does in the foolishfond imagination of tbe country. We hear of artillery being without tbe necessary guns, of cavalry having less than one horse to every six men for drilling purposes, of heavy drafts having to be made on several battalions

to make up one to the requisite strength, and of carious alterations of received geographical definitions in order to evade the rule which prohibits young recruits being sent abroad. As one reads these revelations the wonder grows the greater that such a condition of things could possibly have been permitted to go on unremedied so long.

With regard to that part of the general muddle and ineffectiveness for which the War Office authorities can jbe held responsible, we may hope that the present agitation will not be without good results. Mr Chamberlain in his annual'address to his constituents at Birmingham a short time ago intimated that it was the intention of the Government to deal with the army next session. But there are certain defects in the army for which the War Office is not altogether to blame. For instance, it is not very clear what means short of offering very much greater inducements to first-rcluss men to join the army will maintain a steady flow of men into the ranks who are in the best sense fit to be soldiers. At present it,seems that the number of 'specials'—that is, men who fail to come up to the physical standard of admission, who are enlisted —isbecoming larger and larger. Apparently there is a very real difficulty in -getting

fighting men now-a-days by our pre-

sent methods. We may in the language of the jingo song 'have got the guns, the money too,' but we cer-tainly fiiid the men rather backward in coining forward. Then what is to be done? Naturally one thinks of conscription as the easiest solution of the problem, and Lord Wolseley and others have hinted at such a course before this.-

The British Government have, however, no intention at present- at any rate of resorting to such a step as that. As Mr Chamberlin assured his constituents in the address above alluded to. England will not yet initiate conscription whatever she may be driven to in the future. Other plans to ensure a strong- and effective army and militia will be tried before we come to that, and probably still greater attention will be paid to the organisation and training of the

volunteers

It- is doubtless for the best that "this scare regarding- the condition of the army should have come at this time. We were very apt after the naval display at Spit-head to allow ourselves to be lulled into an undue sense of security by that spectacle of our Imperial power, and to forget.that there was another, branch of onr defence which we could not afford to neglect, however sure we were of our naval supremacy. Scares of this kind do a great deal of good. We owe the present magnificent condition of the navy in no small measure to what at one time were characterised by many as mere alarmists statements. In tbe

same way we may hope from the present agitation at Home for a thorough investigation into the organisation and working of the army, and for the initiation of those reforms which we believe are really needed and essential for the security of the Empire.

The Hon. A. J. Cadnian left by train for the Kaipara yesterday afternoon in order to visit the scene of the recent railway accident near Helensville. From the Kaipara he returns to Auckland, and then goes to Bombay, and thence to the Waikato. After visiting Cambridge he goes to Te Aroha, Paeroa, and the Thames.

This morning the Hon. Thos. Thompson left for the Thames by the p.s. Wakaterc, accompanied by his private secretary, Mr Matthews. Mr Thompson inspects police stations in the Thames and Ohinemuri districts, visiting Paeroa and Waihi, and returns to Auckland by rail. He leaves here for Wellington next Saturday. The Hon. A. .). Cadnian returned from the Kaipara by train last evening and leaves for Bombay to-morrow.

To-day Mr G. S. Kissling was re-elected chairman of the Thames Drainage Board for the sixth year. He took office in January, 1892. At that time the liabilities of the Board was £913 17s 3d; now they amount to £174 10s Bd.

A special meeting of the Onohunga Borough Council was held last night to fix upon the day for the statutory half-holiday for the Onehunga borough. The Mayor (Mr Court) occupied the chair. On the motion of Mr Rowe, it was decided to reappoint Wednesday of the day to be observed during the ensuing year. Leave of absence was granted to Captain Richardson, the Town Clerk, on account of illhealth.

In the charges of sly grog selling at the Great Barrier heard at the Police Court to-day, Isaac Alcock, the defendant, was lined £50 and costs. The defendant was convicted on three charges. Constable T. H. Smith laid the'informations.

The Christchnrch Trades and Labour Council passed a resolution to the effect that the Council protests against the action of the Legislative Council in throwing out the Old Age Pensions Bill, and requests the Government to take such steps as will ensure the passing of the Bill during the next session of Parliament. It also resolved that the Council expresses its sympathy with the movement for the abolition of the Legislative Council, and will use its influence with the unions affiliated in getting a petition signed to request the other Councils of New Zealand to take the matter up.

A cricket match will be played to-morrow (Wednesday) at North Shore between teams representintc the establishment of Mr Geoige Fowlds and Torpedo Corps. The following will represent George Fowlds:—Messrs Smith (2), Saunders, Cleghorn, Davison, Jackson, Ryan, Chappel, Morgan, Cash, Tapper, Holman, Harrison," Eng.

On January 12th the general meeting of the Presbyterian congregation took place in the church at Kohekohe to hear the report of the various committees, viz., Awhiti, Pollock, Kohekohe and Waiuku. The Kcv. Robert Barr presided. The various treasurers were called on to give their reports for the year, which showed a small deficiency, but it was much less than last year. On the whole matters were satisfactory and our worthy pastor spoke very hopeful of things in general. Refreshments were provided by the good ladies of Kohekohe, which were done justice to. At an after meeting it was agreed that Messrs Douglas, Irwin, Pye and H. Scholer be appointed to see into the re-roofing of the manse.—(Awihitu Correspondent.)

To the Editor : Sir,—While congratulating A. Skinner upon his excellent throw of 137 ft 6in with the 161b hammer at the Auckland .Caledonian Society's Sports I must contradict the statement that it is an Australasian record. The professional record is held by my brother, the late W. Matheson, with a throw of 139 ft lin, at the Otago Caledonian Society's Sports, January Ist, ISS4, the second man being J. D. Anderson, with a throw of 124 ft some odd inches. It was the handicap hammer event, and Donald Dinnie and my brother were on the scratch mark, but the latter declined to compete for reasons of his own. The management of the Otago Caledonian Society is known to be first class, so that there can be no reasonable doubt about the record. The handle was of hickory or lancewood, regulation length, and supplied by the Society. —I am, etc., J. MATHESON.

Priest George and Deacon Siman, of the Native Armenian Church, arrived in Auckland to-day from the South. They hear testimonials from the Armenian Patriarch, the Bishop of Wellington and Bishop of Auckland. The latter in a note says, " I have read the letters of the Bishop of Wellington and Dean Hovell, brought to me by two Armenians, and I believe that we may trust these men to convey, to the right recipients our subscriptions 'to the cause for which they are given." Tlie visitors solicit subscriptions "to repair the damage done to churches, schools, and orphanages of the Christian Armenians by Turks and Kurds."

St. James' Hall was the scene last evening of a ballot in the first group of the Auckland Co - operative Terminating Building Society. There was a large attendance of shareholders. Mrs E. Mincher, of Northcote, drew the winning number, 355, and, as she held two shares, is entitled to draw £400. Two shares of £200 each in tlie second group were sold, one realising £50 10s and the other £45.

Tenders for tlie assigned estate of H. Syine, storekeeper, of Paeroa, will be received up till noon to-morrow at the office of W. R. Holmes, Fort-street. The stock is put up in two lots »nd tenders may be for each lot separately or for the whole. The total value of the stock, which is a first class one and is in good order, is £849

To-morrow the Ferry Company will run the p.s. Osprey on an excursion to Pine Island, leaving Victoria Wharf, Uevonport, at 10.30 a.m. and 1.30 p.m., leaving Auckland half an hour later. The Tongariro will leave at a quarter to two on an excursion to the fishing grounds and the Eagle at' a quarter past two for St. Helier's Bay and a trip round the Islands of the Gulf, returning to St. Helier's at 5.30 and arriving at the wharf about six o'clock.

The forfeited shares in the St, Patrick, Golden Link and Moanataiari Extended Goldmining Companies will be offered for sale by auction on Thursday at 11 o'clock by Messrs G. W. Binney and Sons . Shareholders who have forfeited their shares may redeem them up till 4 o'clock to-morrow.

The visit of little Phyllis Perrier to Coromandel to-morrow forms one of the first of a series of nights in the districts round Auckland. The family intend residingin Auckland for some months, having toured the whole of Australia, subsequent to which they go to San Francisco. Their business through New Zealand has been quite phenomenal. Along the line between Wellington and Wanganui so rapidly did the houses till that the performance started frequently at 7.30.

Attention is called to an advertisement elsewhere of a meeting to he held at the V.M.C.A. this evening at 7.30 of those interested in the Wednesday afternoon closing, for arranging a day to hold a picnic. Employers are especially invited.

It is a great mistake to disregard the first symptoms of indigestion. By so doing you will render yourself liable to serious ill-health. Take Nurse Woodward's Health Syrup.—(Ad vt.)

" Progandra/' as advertised as a certain cure for corns, is not a liquid like most corn preparations, but an ointment, put up in neat lacquered tin boxes, is sold retail by chemists *%nd wholesale ; by Sharland and Co., Ltd., Auckland and Welling-ton.--(Ad vt.)