The Times of Wednesday publishes some valuable statistics -of the
condition of the British Army in 1880, from which it appears that through the whole year recruiting was so success- ful, that the Army was above its fixed strength, and contained 188,986 men, of whom 7,817 were officers, 12,431 non-commis- sioned officers, 3,472 trumpeters and drummers, and 165,266 rank and file. All recruits are now above nineteen, and the total force is independent of 28,000 Reserve soldiers, and as many Reserve Militia, all, of course, thoroughly trained men. The eight battalions standing first for service have all been brought above 1,000 strong, while the nine battalions in the Mediterranean have been brought up to 800. The Government has, therefore, a force of 15,000 men, or, say, 12,000 efficients, always ready to meet one of the "little wars " so incessantly on our hands. All that is now required for any but a great war is that the means of filling up these regiments when on service, without destroying other regiments by stealing away their best men, should be provided, but this has been only partially done. That is to say, the depots are not quite full enough. If this were repaired, and the system extended, say, to thirty regiments, the Government would always have one solid corps d'armee at its disposal, for any emergency, which is the ideal position. It will then remain only to see that the corps is reasonably mobile, and that its supply can be made self-acting.
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