IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT

Evening Star, Issue 12865, 14 July 1906, Page 5

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT

Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright, MR HALDANE'S PROPOSALS. APPROVED BY THE EXPERTS.

LONDON, July 15. On Thursday, in the House of Commons, Mr Haldahe (Secretary for War) explained the Cabinet's proposals in relation to the army. He said that these meant a leaa in the movement for a reduction of the crushing burden of armament. With the whole-hearted concurrence of the Army Council, tho Government proposed to reduce the number of regulars by 20,000. Thej ■would then be able to keep prepared in time of peace, and to mobililse in war time su. expeditionary force numbering 354,000, com prising six divisions of infantry, with fo cavalry brigades, ten batteries of horse, and s;xty-three of field artillery, equalling three army corps composed, roughly, of 50,000 regulars, 70,000 reservists, and 30,000 men trained on a militia basis. The late Government had provided excellent new fielu guns for the horse artillery, but only sum cient men to mobilise forty-two batteries, rhe Government intended to utilise th for the ammunition columns and for the artillery reserve. Thirteen thousand gamson mditiamen had been released from duty on coastal defence, thus effecting a saving of £300,000 per year, besides doubling -the efficiency of the artillery. The old field guns would be converted into quick-firers, and issued to the volunteers. The horse artillery and cavalry had not been touched. The Government intended to dispense with the services of the Third Battalion of Scots Guards and the Third Battalion of Coldstneams, and to abolish the Third and Fourth Battalions of the Northumberland and Lancashire Fusiliers, the Warwick hires and the Manchester Regiment, ako to reduce the t Irish Guards' reserves, thus effecting savings to the amount of £122,000. At the end of the year the militia would be territonabsed, and must go abroad in case of war. The volunteers would be organised for the defence of naval ports, and would be given definite functions in each military district J

CRITICISMS AND COMMENTS.

LONDON, July 13. (Revived July 14, at 7.30 a.m.)

Mr Haldane announced the following terras of enlistment:—Line of cavalry, seven years with the colors, five years in the reserve ; field artillery, six years with the colors and six years with the reserve. Under the new scheme fifty-two battalions of the line wilt be stationed in India, twenty-five in the colonies, and seventy-two at Home. Mr Haldane predicts a great diminution in cost with a greatly-increased strength. Mr Forster (ex-Secretary for War) and Mr Balfour insisted that the scheme di&cloted no power for the expansion of the army. Sir Charles Dilke questioned whether there would be great and lasting economies. Mr Haldane replied that expansion would be secured by the people organising for military service under guidance to be given tbeni on the spot. The debate is adjourned. The Press comments are cautious, with a tendency to disappointment.