AUGMENTATION 01' .1.11.E ARMY.
THE public begins to be rather mystified at the continued official reserve respecting the increase of the Army. There is no obvious, at least no sufficient reason for that reserve, and therefore the public supposes that there must be some bidden reason. An addi- tion to our means of defence has been made in several branches of the naval and military forces, and we all know "the reason why." Indeed, the reason is so obvious that the readers of the English journals in any part of the world must perfectly understand it. Not only the state of Europe obliges us to be prepared for eventu- alities, but everybody perceives that the neighbourhood has become much more hazardous since-the 2d of December 1851, and still more so since December 1852. The increase of the national de- fences is the natural sequel to these altered circumstances. The public, therefore, does not understand those diplomatic refinements which make people high in office pretend that the national de- fences must have been increased at any rate ; that they have no re- ference to recent events; and that no extraordinary circumstances have changed the aspect of things within the last twelve or fif- iteen months. To use plain terms, this language is diametrically -opposed to the fact, and we all know it. Is it possible that there can be any gentlemen, in any condition of life who imagine that they shall disarm any offence which might be taken at the increase of our military forces, by simply saying that it has no meaning whatsoever? Assuredly neither our own _public nor any foreign power is to be bamboozled in that style. The very employment of such equivocal language has no effect but to beget a want of con- fidence in men that use it.
Particularly as there seems a practical hiatus in the prepara- tions that have been made. Our Navy has been increased in ships and men ; our Ordnance, in guns, horses' and men ; our Militia has been enrolled. But the increase of the Line corresponding to these augmentations has not yet been announced. There has been no authoritative statement that even those augmentations which have already been announced are deemed sufficient. We
• are wholly without the information that would be deemed explicit - as to the opinion of the military authorities on this point ; and as 'the civilians of the Ministry have used equivocal language, while an essential part of the augmentation is kept back, the public would be very glad to know how this matter really stands.
The reason for keeping silence on the increase of the Line it is not easy to guess. If the officials hesitate to speak out for fear the public should dislike the requisite increase to the Estimates, the reason is a double mistake ; since the public is quite prepared to do its part cheerfully, so that there is no occasion for fearing its displeasure ; but that mood may pass away, so that the present is of all others the proper time to speak out. The public may have been apathetic some time ago ; and it might have been under the sway of a parsimonious prejudice, while it did not think much about the subject. But unquestionably, months before Lord Derby spoke, or even some statesmen in the present Ministry, the public was roused from its apathy, and at the present day it is thoroughly alive to the necessity of effective preparation. That which the public would resent, would be anything to invite war, or to hasten it ; and assuredly nothing could do so like want of preparation to maintain the peaceful inviolability so long enjoyed within our own frontiers.
Asked what would determine any French ruler not to invade England': an eminent French statesman replied—" A home army of fifty thousand men." This declaration by M. Thiers expresses not only a French but a sound view. We need not be at much trouble to understand how the converse of that view may operate on the French mind ; on those intelligent officers of the ship La Corse, recently driven into Dover by " stress of weather," and so hospitably regarded by the officers of the Western Heights. We believe strangers are rather restricted in their survey of French port fortifications; but it may be said that on our side there is no- thing to be seen. Exactly so • at least no "home army of fifty thousand men," which a late War Minister of France pronounces to be the best of all things to block out a war of invasion. Instead, therefore, of receiving the proper announcement with anything like chagrin, we believe all classes would be glad to know what is to be done, and would be quite prepared to make good the necessary means. Nay, we are convinced that an explicit state- ment, indicating even a strong measure would be hailed with satis- faction. The thing which the public looks for, more than any- thing, just at present, is frankness and thoroughness, especially on this most important point. It awaits with some impatience the avowal which has been withheld ; and it will only be annoyed should the measures to be announced prove to be inadequate either to the public expectation or to the exigency of the case.
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