AN EXPENSIVE LUXURY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 65, 12 March 1912, Page 7

AN EXPENSIVE LUXURY.

The picturesque side of soldiering is little in favour witii the modern school of, otiicers.,,:;The lat.esf pi exposal for reducing the expense of military pomp and pageantry at Home is tliat, regimental bands should be abolisiietLi' . general Masse, a 'distinguished. jtifliceJb strongly, i advocated tuis stcpj.a,t a lecture at the United Service institution a, few. .weeks back, and the", <l Westminster Gazette” makes some remarks, on the point that dead one to 1 suppose that the War Office contemplates making such a change. “ Truth” says that General Ma.vse’s views are held by mjany officers; but they,,are afraid to give open expression to them. .Infantry brass bands alone absorb some 7000 men, “who are taken from the fighting tanks; with no other object than to enliven the officers’ guest nights and play dance rahsic for the general’s wife.” The abolition of those bands would increas'dthe 'efficiency of the infantry, and save the, pockets' of the officers, who often find the upkeep of the band a heavy tax. But a worse case is' that of the Royal Artillery band, for which' there is no authority,' and which according to “Truth,” is paid for by officers Tor the almost exclusive .ujso ( of 1 West End society. This band actually costs the public £9OO a year, and the officers'of the Artillery LTOOO a year, 'and is of little or'no Use to the corps. The' same remarks apply to the Royal Engineers’ band, Which is sent about the country to fulfil all kinds of'Unmilitary, engagements. The abolition of these bands wbujd be very unpopular with a certain section of* the public, and th,e War Office may hesitate before it rouses Belgravia to indignation, but sooner or later it will be compelled to reorganise the whole system' of military’ bands. Theta is no proposal to abolish music altogether m the Army. Drum and life bands would be' retained,' and the Scottish regiments would still have their pipers to stimulate them to irresistible rustles. 1