Mr. Cardwell has assured his constituents at Oxford that the
Government intends next session to bring in a Bill for the enlarge- ment of the Army ; and Sir Henry Storks, now candidate in the Liberal interest for Colchester, and the best member Colchester could possibly select, says "a measure" will be presented to Par- liament, and breech-loaders issued to the Volunteers at the rate of 30,000 a month. The plan is generally understood to be one for creating an Army of Reserve ; but no plan can be effective which does not include a heavy increase to our Regular Artillery force. Without going the length of Colonel Shakespear, who wants 500 field guns, we would maintain that the force, in England, and in perfect efficiency, with all its equipments and horses, should never be less than 50 batteries, or 300 guns. Every step of this war shows the folly of leaving a country with an insufficient supply of this arm, which cannot be improvised except at terrible disadvan- tage. If a Sadowa ever happens to our Fleet, the enemy may not be able to bring over more than 90,000 men, but he will assuredly bring twice his proper proportion of artillery. No valour will keep men on a space swept by shells to which they cannot reply.
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