The Chancellor of the Exchequer, speaking to his con. stituents
on Wednesday night, repudiated with indignation the monstrous allegations that he had impeded our military operations by refusals to supply the requisite funds. All well-informed persons, of course, knew these stories to be false, but it. was, we think, wise in the present case to give them an absolute denial. In truth, Sir Michael Hicks-Beach has done as much as any Minister for the successful prosecu- tion of the war, for he has by his skilful financial arrange- ments supplied the vast sums required without imposing an undue burden on the taxpayer. When dealing with the future, his words were full of good sense. He was prepared to assent, if necessary, to further expenditure on the Navy, but he thought that we do not need any increase in the Regular Army. The better plan was to increase the numbers and efficiency of the Militia and Volunteers.
Previous page
