The English Army ami Navy.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XX, Issue 2078, 8 June 1887, Page 2

The English Army ami Navy.

■ GRAVE CHARGES AGAINST THE DEPARTMENTS. London, June 5. Great t-ousatiou has been caused by a s])cech cl Lord Randolph Churchill in , which he unsparingly attacked the administration of the English army ami navy. He asserted that the exjiendaure was annually increasing without a corresponding increase of effectiveness, and that millions were wasted every year in the most wanton manner through the utter incapacity of the officials and the grossest mismanagement. In lb7>s the army cost fourteen millions and a-half, while in iSStithe amount had swollen to eighteen and a-half millions. Naval exIHjuditiire had increased from eleven millions in ls7.j to twelve and a-half last year. These enormous increase)- had been accompanied by a steady detet ioratiou in the fighting capacity. The English army only numbered U.'t.tKKl, yet Germany and France, by the eX|ienditni o of twenty-one and twenty-nine millions respectively, were able to maintain a force of one and a half millions of soldiers in au equal state of effectiveness. The armaments of the fortresses of England were not to be deiiended on, Both cannon and -hips were behind the age. Thu commissariat was faulty, and incapacity was rampant everywhere. As an instance he cued the scandalous offer of officials to protect the imjwrtnnt jxjsition of King George's bound with obsolete) muzzle-loaders. By making a thorough revolution in the personnel of the army and n-vy department-, it would be pos-.-ible to effect a saving of millions annually, and at the same time secure improvement in both branches of tho service. Lord R, Churchill also touched on the prevailing commercial depression in Groat Britain, and contended chat tho State should contribute towards tho alleviulieu ol national disti ess. The surest policy was economy; but the true remedy, ho added, iviu U> broaden the basis of ’.ho btate revenue by the exUu-iu, of'he lai ill' hi. mi: .... - that, while -eeuni.g idditiona' ■ . ue, it would ap|>eive the lemand of r..n u adds without Oticuduig freetradcre,