In the House of Commons on Friday, March 8th, Mr.
Brodrick introduced his proposals for Army reorganisation. We require, he said, besides the regular garrisons abroad and a properly organised force for home defence, three army corps at home always ready to go on active service. These three army corps, entirely composed of Regulars complete in all arms, would be stationed at Aldershot, on Salisbury Plain, and in Ireland. Three other army corps, composed of Regulars, Militia, and Volunteers, would be stationed at Colchester, at York, and in Scotland. In order to get the extra Regulars required for this scheme he pro- posed to free existing battalions (1) by enrolling eight special garrison battalions, composed of soldiers who had passed out of the orainary Reserve; (2) by raising five native Indian regiments for service in tropical stations outside India; (3) by transferring all the smaller coaling stations now garrisoned by the Army to the Navy. If the Navy would take over these coaling stations, which point was not yet finally decided, the gain would be eighteen battalions. In regard to the Militia, Mr. Brodrick proposed to increase it by fifty thousand men, and to improve the conditions by giving the extra 3d. a day already given to the Regulars. After two training's the Militiaman is to have a bounty equal to 3d. a day. Lastly, a real Militia Home Defence Reserve is to be created, which may be joined by any man who has finished Army Colour and Reserve service, or has been ten years in the Militia. In it men will get 4d. a day, or £6 a year. It is believed that this force will number fifty thousand. The Yeomanry, now about ten thousand, are to be raised to thirty-five thousand. In the Volunteers, twenty-five battalions and fifty-five batteries are to be specially trained for home defence.
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