IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2399, 22 February 1900, Page 13

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

ARMY REORGANISATION. A TENTATIVE SCHEME. THE AHMY ORGANISATION PKOPOSALS. LONDON, February 13. Lord Lansdowne in the Hou-se of Lords and Mr Wyndham in the House of Commons explained the Government's military scheme, which they declared Mas only tentative, and designed to meet a great emergency by expedients, though ultimately they might possibly form an integral part of the permanent leorganisation of the army. There wcie still available for home defence 109,000 legulais and 328,000 auxiliaries. It was proposed to increase the regulars by 30,000. and the Government hoped, by various means of encouragement, to induce the auxiliaries to attain to the full establishment, thus soon bringing the number of trained men nearer 600,000 than 500,000, and this without having recourse to a modified form of conscription oi the revival of the militia ballot. In addition to this increase in the strength of the various departments:, the regulars or the army and the volunteer artillery would be provided with modern guns and invited to ./rain three months annually. The volunteers would be armed with the best weapon and more rifle ranges would be provided, and there would also be an increased capitation grant and other assistance. They would further be encouraged to supply a proportion of mounted infantry. Two hundred and fifty-three artillery officers and 622 officers of the line would be required, and the bulk of these commissions would be offered to colonists, the militia, and the students in universities and public schools. The scheme further provides for the formation of 12 permanent line battalions, besides the three infantry battalions authorised last year. There would also be special inducement offered to time-expired men to join for one year. The engineers and the Army Service Corps would be increased, and there would also be the creation of 56 batteries of field artillery and several of horse artillery. The new guns would consist of 15-pounder.s of the must modern make, and there were to be some additional howitzer corps. It was intended to prepare immediately a permanent plant for two new army corps, which in time of peace would not be maintained at their war strength, but utilised as a training establishment. The pay of the militia would be put on a par with that of " the regulars and the force embodied for three ov four months in&tead of one. and provided with a permanent transport. The yeomanry would be invited to go under canvas for a month, and their pay would be increased. They would also be encouraged to supply a proportion of mounted infantry. Sir C. Dilke, Mr Arnold Foster, and several militaiy members delivered critical speeches. The Times regards the scheme os disappointing, and says that it displays a lack of principle and imagination ; the rare opportunity offered was not properly utilised. Lord Salisbury decided against the inclusion of the militia ballot in the Government military programme. February 16. In thfi Hou-e of Lords' Loid Ko&ebery criticised the Government 'b military proposals in an impassioned speech. He complained as to the movements of the militia, and said that the countiy was being denuded of troops. The pioposais ot the Gcvcrmuuia were inadequate, and .showed no conception oi the urgent gravity of the piesent ciii-is, the imminence of the danger, or the overburdening tension in the country. South Africa's ravenous maw demanded many victim 5 -. Where vcre the 50,000 additional men reciuiied to come from? Foreign nations were well aware of .Great Britain's military deficiencies* and it

wa-s impossible to reckon upon their benevolent neutrality. If South Africa were lost to Great Britain we would lose the enthii*ia<=tic support of the colonies. The Government ought to take a larger grasp of the situation, and recognise that it was a matter of life and death. Lord Lsmsdowne denied that Lord Robert's had asked for more troops than were already under ordeis. At the same time, if more men v. ere needed they would be sent. Lord Salisbury ridiculed Lord Ro«ebery's lugubrious vaticination*, arguing that it was useless to insist upon providing against dangers that weie not likely to arise. The tide of war was changing in Great Britain's favour, and he felt confident that the campaign would prove successful. In the House of Commons the Supplementary Estimates were brought down bj* the Government. They were carried by 239 votes to 34. In the House of Commons Mr Wyndham said that the expense of the volunteers training during 1900 would be paid by the taxpayers. LONDON, February 14. German and Austrian newspapers consider Mr Wyndham"s scheme for increasing ( the British army insufficient in the present crisis, and strongly urge ultimate reorganisation based on conscription or the Swiss system as a minimum.