GREAT BRITAIN’S ARMY.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 3955, 22 January 1900, Page 2

GREAT BRITAIN’S ARMY.

AN AMERICAN VIEW. The following leading article appeared iu the - ‘Ncw York Tribune” of November 22:—“The troubles in South Africa arc a second, time placing the British -AUipiro on renew before the world. J-IJO first time was just after the Jameson rauiGrcat Britain was then at the height- of her ’splendid isolation.’ ,There was some unpleasant, not to say menacing, talk upon the Continent. -The spectre of Hostile intervention began to take tomtit was necessary for the insular Athanasius to make a demonstration against not. the Transvaal, but the world. The word was givoilA Anil id the twinkling ot air eye, trom every wave-made hollow of au tlie Seven Seas, there seemed to start a. British battleship, with decks full clearer* tor action. Never, perhaps, was a more startling exhibition’made of a great- nation’s readiness for whatever emergency might appear. Never was there quicker recognition of such readiness by the potential throe.toners. "As that amazing reserve fleet steamed into view the possible meddlers vanished. As ‘Ooln Paul’ pub in his racy speech, The Old Lady just snoozed, ana then where were they?’ For answer, hero is irhat the ‘None From Prcs.se,’ of Vienna, says:—‘There can ho ho question of the intervention of any European Power. No one will rob the British lion of his prey. - ’ To-day this second review is of a different character, it is hot the navy, but the army. Now, the British army mis been much despised upon the Continent saicc tlie memory of Waterloo began to fade. Its hideous mi> inanagemcnb in tne Crimea discrcdit.oa its system as raiica. as Balnklava valium its individual valour: and since then it has had to deal with none but* petty tribes or with remote enemies. Upon the bolus of Europe it has been unknown, and Waterloo has been .eclipsed by Duppel, Sadowa, and Sedan. With no conscription. outnumbered more to an ten to opes by rivals, and scattered to the four corners, of the cartti, it has come to bo regarded as a negligible if not an outright minus quantity, hut now that estimate is reconsidered. With a promptness, a smoothness,, and an case that maim the .Continental captains rub their eyes, a British army is mobilised and sout... halfway around the .globe f<?r action ; and it shows a fitness of physical condition, a perfection of equipment and of discipline, mid, in brief, an all-round efficiency that excites, the amazement, ancf admiration of even the Gorman headquarter* ..staff, and calls thorefram.,a ,jgasi,•. cordial.covurdimeat.' True,, it is a small army compared ..with. .what.. .the,, .great .military Powers could put into the field.. But size does not always count. It shows iu field-action the. efficiency which a German expert.in the.Soudaiueampaign pronounced ‘simply incredible.’ True, also, it lias to be summoned from distant parts.-' Biit then, too, all tho sciiiriTcd colonies stand ready with their contingents. It is. not av army from Great Britain and Ireland along, but fion: that Greater Britliih which includes the Dominion of Canada, and tho ifnitod ■ bintes of Australia. So the world is made to realise that the British Empire’ is still a military force on land as well as on. sea, and on-; soa as well, as on land. There lias been some vain talk of Europe’s opportunity, while British hands arc busy in South Africa, for making; anti-Brilif-.li advances elsewhere in the"‘world;ln tho first place/ it jis’not to bo,.believed that .any Power or Powers havosuch a purpose'or doFire; ana in the second pbteo it is vo be. observed that,- despite her .business-in ’South Africa, Groat Britain is just as free ns ever to deal-with any other foo. Tlie hamls with wliicli she has been expected to grapple with Russian, or French, or German aggression are not. tied,nor busy. ■ ll er fleet- is not engaged iu the Transvaal. Just a- few ships, under tlie gallant ; Chichester--the fyicml of Dowey at Manila— are .sufficient* for her jiurposo there. A.ll the rest remain on, duty ijs before, around her coasts, iu the narrow seas, in the Meditqmwicnn, and where* ef tlibvc'is an interest to guard ora, menace to check. It Is not, iu vainglorious boasting, snor in swaggering jingoism, but in the calm confidence of well, prepared and well-tested; strength, that thei .Britisii Empire stands on review today, ready at - every point, on land and sea, to keep aliko her martial drum-beat, sounding ’ and her. peaceful ebnimcree moving, and her. vast ; realm intact all. round the crimsoned circloi of tho globe.”