Mr. Brodrick, the Under-Secretary for War, made an in- teresting
speech at Shere, near Guildford, on Wednesday last. Parliament, he complained, though it was willing to pay attention to the Navy, would take little or no interest in the Army. Last Session the Government introduced four Military Bills, but not one of them became law, owing, in the case of three of them, to the tactics of the Opposition.. The Manoeuvres Bill was the worst case. The military authorities declared that it was essential to train our officers by means of manoeuvres, and it was therefore proposed to carry a permanent measure, including provisions such as those embodied in 'the special Act passed in 1875. But though everything was done to meet the Opposition, and the fullest compensation was promised to all persons- likely to be injured, the Opposition prevailed. Yet as things stand at present, it is impossible to drill or manceuvre a cavalry division. The Government, Mr. Brodrick added, would next year make another effort to carry their Bill. We sincerely trust that they will then insist on its passage. We do not believe that Mr. Brodrick in the least exaggerates the importance of carrying on military manoeuvres on a really large scale. As he said, you could not teach people to play cricket if you always practised them in bowling at wickets. ten instead of twenty-two yards apart.
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