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A FINANCIAL RETROSPECT, 1861-1901 315
absolute dependence on sea communications for need-
ful raw materia~ well as food, and for the sale of the
p;od'uctions by which our people live. may be unex-
pectf!dly curtailed. Hen-ce we must make preparations
for eventualities, not only as if we were one of the un-
fortunate continental States who are perpetually in
terror of the spectre of invasion, and whose case we
have been accustomed to lament from our superior
position as girt by the iQ.violate sea; but we must pre-
pare as if we were exposed to even greater dangers
than any continental neighbour. Our whole position
has been revolutionised internationally, and as like
causes produce like effects, we must go through the
experience in the way of military preparation which
our continental neighbours have gone through.
The only question is as to the exact figure at which
the permanent increase of Army and Navy expenditure
should be put. It will probably be something less than
the 121 million £ at which it now stands, comprising
one-half for ordinary Army and Navy expenditure and
one-half for so-called war. The estimates for next year
provide for about 100 million £ only. But take it as a
rough guide that every 100,000 men of regular army
and navy, allowing for increased pay, must cost about
13 million £ a year, and that new ships and repairs,
merely to keep our fleet going, must cost about 15
million £ annually, we can easily calculate what large
sums must be spent. Mr. Brodrick estimates the regu-
lar army, including India, at 250,000 men, but this
omits South Africa, and with South Africa the numbers
will certainly not be less than 300,000, omitting India
altogether. At the rate of 13 million £ for each 100,000
men, this will mean an expenditure for army alone ()f
nearly 40 million £, apart from charges for auxiliary
forces and the like. The navy, again, has nearly 130,000
men, involving at the above rate a charge for the per-
sonnet of about 17 million £, besides 15 million £ for
repairs and renewals of the materiel, andC'charges for
fortified coal depots, etc., let alone an increase of the