Page 263 - clra62_0019-(GIPE)

THE STANDARD OF STRENGTH FOR OUR ARMY 255
altogether impossible? Of course there are native
Egyptian forces, but precisely one of the dangers to be
feared is the nerve of such troops when pitted against
a European force, and possibly the existence of treachery
at a critical moment. To those who urge the impossi-
bility of even a surprise on Egypt while we are pre-
ponderant at sea, it may also be pointed out that the
Suez Canal is theoretically neutralised. and foreign
troops are continually passing through it; so that at
the outbreak of war, in addition to the raiders by
force, we might suddenly have upon our hands a few
thousand enemy's troops passing through the Canal
ostensibly on legitimate business, but suddenly diverted
to an attack upon the English position in Egypt.
Here, again, is a case for making sure. An addition
of 15,000 men to the permanent garrison is apparently
required.
Let us see, then, how we stand as regards our Army
on a peace footing. The numbers required, exclusive
of recruits and exclusive of the native troops used in
India and elsewhere, appear to be as follows:
Home-Garrisons of forts, etc. • . 30 ,000
." Field Army. • . . • . 80,000
India • . . . . . . • . . 70 ,000
Other garrisons abroad-actual. '. 40 ,000
Addition required in South Africa 35,000
Addition required in Egypt 15,000
Total. • . . . . • 270 ,000

To these numbers, moreover, must be added the num-
ber of recruits and young soldiers in training required
to feed the effective army with drafts. These recruits
and young soldiers are untrained or otherwise unfit for
active service, but they have to be paid for from the
time they enlist. The numbers required with our pre-
sent system of recruitipg must, however, be about
90,000,1 ma~ing the total numbers on our peace estab-
I This was practically unquestioned in the recent debates on
Mr. Brodrick's Resolutions.