THE NEW ARMY SCHEME.
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR.")
SIR,-I venture with all deference to make, with your permis- sion, one or two remarks upon the article in the Spectator of March 16th under the above heading. I do so by way of suggestions founded on long intimacy, in regimental duty, with the British soldier before the introduction of the so- called short-service system. It is admitted in the article referred to that "the recruit ought to be able to feel that if he goes into the Army, and behaves himself, and does not show wasteful negligence as regards his clothing and accoutre- ments, he will," with other advantages, "have a shilling a day pocket-money." It is also well said :—" If men could feel that once in the Army they were always sure a the clear shilling a day to spend or save as they liked the effect in attracting men would be out of all proportion to the extra expense." All this I think every officer of much regimental experience will agree with, but with the limitations above stated as to behaving himself no soldier can feel sure of the clear shilling a da.y to spend as he likes. There is not only this uncertainty, there is also the objection to deductions from pay contingent on conduct, and within the power of a commanding officer to inflict, that it depends very often on the caprice or temper of a commanding officer, and so far goes against the soldier's feelings of what is fair and just. As regards the raising of Indian regiments for tropical garrison duty, it may be doubted whether it is wise to increase the employment of our Sepoys out of their own country, and especially upon duty so wanting in the excitement attending on service in the field. "Let any prince, or state, think soberly of his forces, except his militia of natives be of good and valiant soldiers." "As for mercenary forces (which is the help in this case) all examples show that whatsoever estate, or prince, doth rest upon them, he may spread his feathers for a time, but he will need them soon after." This, Bacon's opinion, is worth consideration just now, and so is the historian Napier's, that "military virtue is not the growth of a day, nor is there any nation so rich and populous, that despising it can rest secure."-'--I am,
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