28 FEBRUARY 1903, Page 3

The real difference, then, between us and Mr. Balfour is

that he seems to think that the only way in which to find the men for this work is to keep three army corps of professional soldiers always ready in these islands, while we hold that a change in our system would give us the men needed in an equal state of efficiency and at a far lower charge. Given the proper machinery ready and in working order, we could rapidly create such a force, pertly out of a henna Army with a special Reserve, and partly out of a portion of the men trained in the Auxiliary Forces. We did it, in fact, during the Boer War, though without any proper machinery. With a machinery appropriate to the purpose it could be done with quite sufficient rapidity. It remains' to be said that the amendment was lost by a majority of 116 (261 votes to 145). Considering the fact that the Goverrimerit made the matter one of confidence, and that none of the Unionist reformers wished to turn them out, it must be admitted that the cause of Army reorganisation on better lines gained a success.