Page 274 - clra62_0019-(GIPE)

266, ECONOMICINQUIlitIES AND STUDIES
(4) There is much confusion in these matters, from
the War Office habit of counting recruits and immature
men as part of the home establishment; so that with
the present establishment of 155,000 there are not in
fact more than 65,000 trained and mature men, instead
of the 110,000 actually required both for garrisons and
field force. The three army corps of 120,000 Regulars
supposed to be ready for foreign service according to
Mr. Brodrick's scheme cannot in fact exist, because
there are only 65",000 available for all purposes, in-
cluding garrisons; and deducting 30,000 for garrisons,
there are only 35,000 available instead of 120,000.
(5) The Regular Army is further required for garri-
soning India, South Africa, Egypt, Malta, Gibraltar,
and other possessions and fortified places abroad, and
it appears on this head that considerable additions ought
to be made, both South Africa and Egypt in particular
being insufficiently provided for. The numbers we re-
quire in all for these garrisons appear to be 160,000,
instead of 110,000 as stated in the Army Estimates.
It seems unnecessary to labour this point while about
140,000 of the Regular Army, besides irregular forces,
are in South Africa alone, engaged in garrisoning the
country, and not in actual war. We must make up our
minds to have larger figures to deal with for garrisoning
the Empire than the Government put forward as their
peace estimate.
(6) Altogether, including the Indian force, we require
a Regular Army of 2 70,000 men, besides 90,000 recruits
and immature men on the present system of recruiting,
or a total of 360,000 in all. .
(7) In addition, we require about 160,000 reserves
for the Regular Army, besides help from the auxiliary
forces, so as to provide for the possibility of serious in-
vasion by sea when invasion, though not strict blockade,
may be possible to a momentarily superior enemy, and
so as to provide also for serious wars abroad.
(8) To get the numbers required an increase of pay
for the Regular Army is absolutely necessary; and the