In the House of Commons on Friday week (March 7th)
the discussion of the Army Estimates and Mr. Brodrick's new proposals was carried on in a very useful and interesting debate. Mr. Lee, who made an excellent impression on the House, began by a very proper protest against the exaggerating of minor reverses to our arms into serious disasters,—a protest with which we most heartily concur. Turning to the general con- dition of the Army, he declared that the time had come for embodying in a State paper the policy of the Government with regard to the Army. This might be done by bringing up to date and reissuing the Memorandum published in 1891 by Mr. Stanhope. He thought that no scheme which did not include the co-operation of the Colonies for national defence would be satisfactory. "Our Army was the only force in the world which had not a General Staff ; and he urged that such a Staff should be constituted." That is all sound sense. As to the increased pay, he welcomed it warmly, but hoped that no petty tinkering with the scheme would be allowed. Here again we are heartily with Mr. Lee. It must not only be a clear shilling a day, but "all found, and well found." Mr. Brodrick's answer to .his critics was satisfactory, but contained nothing new.
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