THE PRIVATE SOLDIER.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE "Brecreros."1
SIR,—I have read with interest "A. C.'s " letter, in the Spectator of September 20th, on "The Private Soldier," as well as ex-Serjeant Palmer's "Wrongs of the Private Soldier," in the Nineteenth Century, and can fully corroborate nearly all, if not quite all, that is written in them. I rejoice to think that at last there is some hope of the British public awaking to the injustice with which their servants are treated. "A. C.," however, attributes these "mean and petty grievances" to the "wilfulness and carelessness of our military authorities." I think he is wrong here. All reforms mean extra expendi- ture, and the expenditure does not rest with the military authorities, but with the British public. I know the answer to this is, that the Army now costs an enormous sum annually, and that if only this was rightly administered, there would be ample funds for all reforms ; and in support of this, the cost of the British soldier is compared to that of the German and French soldier,—quite without reference to the fact that our authorities have to compete in the labour market for their recruits, while other countries have them supplied almost gratis. I could add many grievances to those enumerated by ex-Serjeant Palmer,—how in India, in the stations where cloth clothing is seldom if ever worn, the soldier still receives the same allowance of cloth clothing as in England ; while the white or " khaki " uniform, which he wears always, has to be provided at his own expense, and the constant washing which white clothing requires throws an extra charge on him. The same applies to the white pugaries worn round the helmet in India.
In fact, the list of " cuttings " from a soldier of good character and respectability is endless, and at the end of the month the balance to his credit is small indeed. It is said that there are great difficulties in obtaining recruits. I do not wonder at it. The marvel to me is, and always has been, that any men come at all. Give the soldier his full ration of bread, meat, vegetables, &c., and his fall supply of clothing for all climates, and add a shilling a day,—in fact, board, lodging, clothing, and a shilling a day, and you will have the pick of the labour market. The saving in the estimates for the Medical Department would be considerable, ELS there would be fewer sick among the finer class of recruits that would be immediately forthcoming, and in time of war our Army would be an army of men instead of a crowd of boys.—I am, Sir, &c, A LINE SUBALTERN.
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