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THE STANDARD OF STRENGTH FOR OUR ARMY 265
with all the economy possible we shall have Army
Estimates of £40,000,000 and upwards in peace times
before very long. We were living in a fool's paradise
before the South African war, and are now awaking to
the realities of life. I would point out, however, that,
although the figures sound large, people forget how
large has been the increase of wealth in the country for
many years past. With Army Estimates of £40,000,000
and Navy Estimates of ~ual amount, we shall be pay-
ing no more in proportion than other countries do, and
less than we have paid in former times, and less than
we have paid even in this South African war for a
couple of years when money has been made to flow
like water, and numberless lives have been lost, all
because we were so unprepared. The country can well
afford to meet such outlays, and the sacrifice should be
willingly made.

I. have written at greater length than I intended
when I began, but perhaps a. summary of a few prin-
cipal points may be allowed, so as to familiarize the
reader with the essential ideas, in my judgment, which
should be kept in mind in these discussions:
(I) The Regular Army is required primarily, as all
other armies are required, for the maintenance of in-
ternal order j and for this reason alone-that is, to
garrison Ireland and to keep order in Great Britain-
a considerable force must be kept.
(2) The Regular Army is required, further, for de-
fence of fortified ports and centres at home, and for the
defence of the whole country against raids by foreign
Powers either at the outbreak of war or in the interval
which must elapse before our general preponderance at
sea is converted into overwhelming superiority in fact
over the particular enemy engaged.
(3) For these two purposes alone we appear to re-
quire about 110,000 trained soldiers altogether, exclu-
sive of recruits and immature men, viz., 30,000 for
garrisons and 80,000 as a mobile force.