8 JUNE 1872, Page 2

The controversy between Mr. Vernon Harcourt and the soldiers continues,

but the Member for Oxford is growing mild. He now admits that we should not be quite defended enough with 30,00() Infantry, and advises an expenditure of 11,000,000 on a fleet of 3() ironclads exclusively for Channel service, and 100 ironclad gun- boats of "the Staunch and Plucky" type to guard all parts of the coast. The argument from economy is therefore given up, and as the 50,000 men whom we can secure for 14,000,000 can help us in India, Canada, or Belgium on a pinch, and the Channel Fleet can- not, it seems to us that the bottom of the whole argument has fallen out. The truth is, there never was any reality in the dis- cussion at all. Great Britain is not bounded by four seas, but has at least four frontiers which can be attacked without her being able to use a ship in her defence. No ship can help to protect India from Russia, Gibraltar from Spain, Belgium from France or Germany, or the Dominion from the United States.