BRITISH ARMY REFORMS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXIII, Issue 47, 11 March 1901, Page 3

BRITISH ARMY REFORMS.

A LARGE SCHKMB. , CBOENTRALISINO ADMINISTRATION. • OBNTBALKiINQ RESPONSIBILITY. j [pub pbbss association.] ] Received 10, 4 30 p.m. ' London, March 9. ] la the House of Commons, Mr. ! Brodrick, Secretary (or War, unfolded i his great army scheme, which was favourably commented on by both sides of the House. The central feature is six army corps stationed in as many districts, each corps to be completely equipped, and three always to be ready t« go abroad, & large portion of the "War Office work devolving upon commanders of corps. Mr. Brodrick stated the home army In future would number 680,000, including 155,000 regulars, besides 115,000 rfgulais in India and abroad, 90,000 reserve*, 150,000 militia, 35,000 Yeomanry, and a quarter of a million volunteers of increased efficiency. The field army would comprise 260,000, Home garrison 190,000, and Volunteers for the defence of London 100,000, including forty heavy batteries, leavicg unallotted a surplus of 130,00 Implementing the staff, the sick, and recruits The first army corps is intended for immediate foreign seivioo, or first line of Home defence. The total addition to the fores will be 126,000, costing under threj millions Annually. The training of the troops will be remodelled. There will bs lew barrack drill, and more professional spit it is expected amongst the officer/, whos9 expenses will l».i reduced. (.Received 10, 4.50 p.ra). London, March 19. Jn unfolding the ctw army schtm°, Mr. JBrtdrick stated that Aldei-ahot would be the head-quarters for tb« first corps, Sa'i»bury Plain foisecond, Iceland for the thiid, Colchester the fourth, York the fifth, and Edinburgh the sixth. The last three will include sixty batt-ilions of} militia and volunteers, both with field] goes and special training. The enrolment of eight garrison regimen's would release an equivalent of regulars for the Mediterranean Station. Five Indian regiments would .replace the regulars garrisoning tropical fortress at.d the Admiralty would undertake the defence of the smal'er .coaling stations, tbus releasing another £ve battalions of regulars. A militia reserve of fifty thousand was being farmed. The Yeomanry will be armel with riflV', if possible, and the Colonial Yeomanry Fill be affiliated for Imperial eervice. Two hundred of the decimal seven* inch field guos will be ordered. Each corps will have its own barTpcks, manceavi ing grounds, staffs, etwes, and tr«n-pjrt for complete aervioe. JSo officer will b9 employed with a pea.ee command unless he is certified as fit to command in time of war. Tfc>% scheme aims at decentralising Administration, aul ceatral'ting respoasfiiiity.