THE BRITISH ARMY.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 12545, 14 July 1906, Page 9

THE BRITISH ARMY.

GOVERNMENTS .NEW SCHEME. REDUCTION OF 20,000 MEN. COMPOSITE STRIKING FORCE OF 15-1,000. United Press Association—By Electno • Telegraph—Copyright. (Received Jury 13th, 9.215 p.m.) LONDON, July 13. It> *he House of Commons, Mr Haldi»Tie explained the Cabinet's now army scheme. Great Britain meant to l<sa<i the movement for th-e reduction* of the crushing burden of armaments. With tho v.iiolc-heart«l concurrence of the Army Council, it was proposed to letliico tho Regular Army by 20,000. They would then, be ablo to keop prepared ut time of posiee and mobilise in war-timo aai cxpedit-xmiary force of 15-1,000 men, comprising six divisions of infoiitry with four cavalry brigades, ten batteries of horse artillery, and sixty-tuireo 'batteries of field artillery. This forco would equal tdireo army orpe and would ibe composed, roughJgr, ot 60,000. regulars, 70,000 reservists, and 30,000 men trained on. tho militia ba&s. Mr HaJdane said that the late GovcTiijiKvnt providuxi oxcvlleat new field guns i'or tilio horse artillery, but only suflicicnt men to mr/bilisL* forty-two buu-iorics. The Government intended to utilise for ammunition columns and the artillery reserve 13,000 garriaoJii nulitiaonen relcastxl from duties in const dofcaicci \ihue effecting » saving of £31)0,000 a year, besides doubling tJieefneioncy of the- artillery. The old field guns would bo converted into quick-firers, and issued to Tiie horse artil-'erj , and the cavalry would net bo touched. It was hi tended to d;si>e.nso with t.he tJu'rtl battalion of tha Scots Guards, tlie tiliird battalion of tiio Ccl<jstreams, and to abolisli tho ■tJiiid uaii.l fourtJi battalions of fclie Noriiiiimberland and l<ant-.tshiro Fusiliers, and tcho Wanriclcslure uaid Manchester regiments, aniii to reduce dio Iriaii Gu!u<r<Jß. TJie reserves would amou-at to 122,000 at tdie eu:d oi" tiliva year. 'line- niilitio, winoli would" be territoriaJiscd, inusst go abroad in caso of war. The volunteers wouid , b? organised in defence of niaval pon!:s, and bo given definite functions in e*i.ah district.