THE COST OF THE WAR.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 10522, 7 December 1899, Page 5

THE COST OF THE WAR.

Afc : : 'ijafir SUPPLEMENTARY

ESTIMATE

The War Office has issued a supplementary estimate of the additional number of men, and of the further amount of money, required in the year ending March 31st, 1900, in consequence of the military situation, in South Africa. The niimbw of men of all franks; required for army service, in addition to the number already voted, is 35,000. This number represents the probable maximum excess beyond the establishment fixed for the year 1899-1900, in consequence of the proclamation calling up a portion of the Army Reserve and the transfer, of a number of troops from the Indian to the British establishment.

TEN MILLIONS OF MONEY. The amount of money needed is £110,000,000, and the army votes under which it will be accounted for are:— l.Pay, etc., of the army ... £1,000,000 2. Medical establishments, pay, ' ; etc.. * ' .:. 60,000 3., Militia pay, etc. ' ... 250,000 6..Land and sea /transport, purchase of remounts and, transport animals. ... 4,900,000 7. Provisions, forage, fietd v allowances, and. other serviced - ... , ,-,. 1*!QO,QOO 8. Clothing senrjcta , ... 650,000, 9. Equipment, engineer, and "~ ; v . j . mieoellaneonft,stores *.. 1,150,060 { IQ, Engineer cervices. ... 100,000 Ibtal *.... ... £10,000,000 ORIGINAL JkND AMENDED ESTIMATES. • The total original estimate was £§3,817,333, from which must be deducted £3,200,133 appropriations in aid, leaving £20,617,200 as the net total. With the supplementary estimate now presented, the net total of the army estimates is brought up to £30,617,200. With the new estimate is a memorandum showing the principal heads of expenditure for which it provides. By far fie largest proportion of the £10,000,000 will be'spent on the despatch of division, an army corps, and lines of communication, including the calling up of a portion of the Army Reserve and the replacement of stores and clothing; including also the embodiment of a, portion of the militia, and the raising of seven cavalry regiments and 19 batteries of horse attd field artillery to the higher establishment at home, the raising of an irregular force in South Africa, and the despatch of contingents from Australia and Canada. The total expenditure under thes3 heads will be £8,006,000. The despatch of reinforcements from Home, the Mediterranean, and India (three cavalry regiments, two brigade divisions, field artillery, eight battalions of infantry, with proportion of ;Army Service Corps,- etc.), the raising of a volunteer force in Natal; and the provision of v special clothing and hospital supplies for the force in South Africa, will cost £1,441,000. The balance — go in increasing the efficiency and mobility of the force in South Africa on July Ist last, with the of two battalions of infantry for the protection of Natal, and the raising of local bodies of mounted infantry for the pro<4fcction of Rhodesia.