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THE STAr:.lJARD OF STRENGTH FOR 1)·~>\1.~~,243
an interval as to make the war footing the only one of
real importance to be considered. But it is an unavoid-
able difficulty as regards the English Army, whose
peace duties include little wars which are almost annual
In their occurrence, and a constant state of preparedness
for such w~' In what way, then. is a standard for the
Englisl- .<." to be arrived at, first on a peace footing,
and next on a partial or full war footing, and what is
the interval of time to be rontemplated in arriving at the
latter condition either in part or fully? It is to further
an understanding on some of these points between the
experts and the public that the present paper is written.

The starting-point of the discussion must, of course,
be the preponderance of the Navy. The condition of
the British Empire without command of the sea is
hardly conceivable. We should then be at the mercy
of any Power which had such command. Our com-
munications could not be maintained. We should be
-liable to blockade at home and to the ruin of our foreign
commerce, nor could we keep India or any other de-
pendency by force. We should be no worse off perhaps
than Holland, which is in no condition to defend its
independence or its empire against neighbouring States;
but the condition of Holland is obviously, for many
.reasons, not a desirable one, while it may be doubted
whether small States like Holland would be so numerous
and prosperous as they are if there were not Powers
like England capable of maintaining public international
law against freebooting Powers. We start, then, with
the idea of an army to be used in conjunction with a
preponderant navy. What. are the purposes for which
such an army is required. and what numbers are needed
first on a peace and then on a war footing?
The first use of an army is for purposes of defence
against internal commotion. This statement may sur-
prise some people who think of police only when
questions of internal order are concerned and have not
for many years witnessed the soldier in evidence in