Mr. Cardwell introduced the Army Estimates on Monday night in
a very successful, though slightly discursive speech. We have analysed it elsewhere, but wish to give here the force we get for our fourteen an I a half millions, not counting India :-
Regulars, deducting Colonies Army Reserve Pensioners Militia Volunteers 50,186 7,993.
23,804-
129;000 160,000 370,983 This is exclusive of the 62,000 men in India, and if they were all of equal excellence would make a sufficient Army. This, however, is not the case ; but still, reckoning the Army Reserve, the Second-class Pensioners, and part of the Militia as equal to the Line, we have certainly reached the ideal of 150,000 good troops within the Islands, with 200,000 good half-trained men behind them. The difficulty now, therefore, is not quantity— though we should like to see the regular force still stronger, as there are deductions to be made—but good organisation, dis- cipline, and leadership. Can we at a week's notice feed, move, and mancenvre 100,000 men easily ? Not yet, and till we can, the work is not fully done, though Mr. Cardwell's Administrative Brigades are a long step toward it.
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