Lord Randolph's principal speech was, however, devoted to the expenditure
on the Army and Navy. He declared that this expenditure bad risen from 225,400,000 in 1875, to 230,800,000 in 1880; and for this money we have an increase of 12,000 Regulars, 27,000 Army Reserve men, 3,000 Militia, and 50,000 Volunteers. This increase of strength involved, however, an increase of only 2700,000 in outlay, and where had the rest of the money gone ? The cost of the Navy alone had increased by 22,000,000, yet the strength of the Navy at the two periods was almost exactly the same. The total expenditure on armaments in England and India was 251,000,000 a year, yet he did not believe it possible for the Government to place more than 150,000 men in the field. The fortresses of the Empire are neither properly armed nor properly provisioned. The heavy guns are all bad, and the Army rifle is a most inferior weapon. There is not land transport for 21,000 men, and the Minister who advocated a spirited foreign policy would be a maniac. Lord R. Churchill gave many startling stories in evidence of his statements, especially affirming that two millions have been spent upon armoured ships so badly built, that when at sea none of their armour will be above the water- line. He maintained that the first security for efficiency would be to cut down the supplies, but affirmed that he had a plan in his head which would save 24,000,000, and yet make the Army and Navy as efficient as they ought to be. He would, however, for the present keep his plan to himself. Lord Randolph is doing good service in bringing forward this matter t but he will find, we fear, that until the Irish Question is out of the way, the English people will not attend. They never do attend to more than one question at once.
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