The Army Estimates have been laid upon the table, and
show a total increase of expenditure of £603,900, the total outlay being £13,989,500. The greater part of this increase is for military stores, but a sum of less than £200,000 is devoted to an increase of 3,603 men, to an addition to the pay of non-commissioned officers, and to a grant of deferred pay to men who have completed their full term. For the entire sum we are to have 103,519 men of all ranks in Great Britain and Ireland—including 63,500 infan- try—and 24,043 men in the Colonies, besides the 62,842 men serving in India. If these men were all effectives, this would be a sufficient force, especially as the infantry might be -doubled on an emergency without increase to the other arms ; but the question Mr. Hardy will have to answer is, whether they will be effectives. Does he think that the small increase of pay he proposes will bring us good men ? If he does, no one will grumble ; but if he does not, the rapid mounting of the Estimate will create great discontent. The country is quite willing to pay for an Army, but it wants to have one, and not a huge squad of half-formed lads in red.
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