tritru tn t4t ettitur.
FALSE MILITARY NOTIONS.
29th October 1856.
Sra—The Times has favoured the public (25th instant) with another mili- tary article, passing laudatory observations on the new regulation for the partition of our Army into regiments and training-depots. The new ar- rangement cannot fail to be highly satisfactory to those who wish the Army well, more especially as we may hope it is but the preface to a chapter of ameliorations.
There are, however, in the article to which I allude several fallacies, calcu-
lated, if they gain ground with the public, to cripple the efforts of our well- intentioned and able chief. The gist of the article is, " That the British infantry soldier is to be maintained at the lowest possible figure consistent with the considerations above mentioned—namely, that we should have a sufficient number of first-rate soldiers for Home and Colonial service in time of peace, but sufficiently strong to serve as a nucleus, capable of any de- velopment that may be required in ease of war." The first consideration, our duties as extra police at home and abroad, I
pass by. As to our bars' a nucleus for future development, that has been tried up to 1854, and we know the lurch we were left in. We the infantry, the article says, "are to be rather as germs than as bodies of the strength required for use. In three months probably, in six months certainly, the young recruit is brought into a fit condition to do his country good service in the field as an infantry soldier, so he be incorporated with old troops." It is really lamentable to see such dicta published in the face of the misery and ruin this germinating system brought upon us during the last war. We began our preparations about the autumn of '53. Twelve months afterwards—not three, nor yet six months afterwards—we reinforced our army in the field with such draughts as we were able to collect : and how did they serve their country ? Nine-tenths of them at least died or were in- valided within three months. Lord Raglan was obliged to write home to say that it was of no use sending him out men who, so far from being able to fight, could not be kept alive.
Recruits require regular living and nourishing food for some two years
before they get the bodily strength and hardness of muscle that enable them to stand the wear and tear of campaigning. We don't subject a horse or hound to the unwonted exertion of power called for in hunting or racing without careful preparatory training ; if we do, they break down, and fail us in our need. If we want men from the plough or the loom to fight and resist the fatigues of war, we must train their muscles and sinews if we de- sire success. The soldier, however, must have other qualities besides bodily strength, an unerring eye with the rifle, or a knowledge of the rudiments of drill : obedience, and the other necessary military, virtues,. must become to him as instincts. What can three or six months' education do for him in that way ? Suppose, however, that we have our " germs " perfect ; that there are difficulties in our foreign relations—that war appears possible, not to say probable : do we begin to arm ? No ; first of all, our doing so would be in- terpreted as a menace to the government with which we are at issue—would eomplicate the question ; and our adversary would have an inducement to hasten matters so as to take us unprepared. Our Government-would be further indisposed to military preparations, by the difficulty that would exist, in case peace was preserved, of satisfying the Opposition of the neces- of the increased expenditure. The tendency would always be towards erring our preparations to the last possible moment, as has indeed been our invariable practice. In the end, we must either be submissive, or if war is forced upon our reluctant hands, we- must send out our beet and
bravest to perish, to obtain time to put forth our real strength. Thus are our " germs" nipped by the first frost : but wilfully to make such a sacri- fice necessary, is near akin to the crime of murder and fratricide ; it prolongs our day of suffering, and infinitely multiplies the ultimate cost.
We talk among other things a great deal and in a very complacent way of our camps : but as yet, all that our soldiers learn there is, that living in tents or huts is not so comfortable as liviniF in barracks ; and that being marched about and put through their motions before admiring crowds, though great fun to the crowds aforesaid, is to them an unmitigated beset the advantage of which to themselves or the country they don't see. Neither they nor the regimental officers learn anything in camp that could not be taught them as well in their barrack squares ; and we need' not be surprised if, like the army. in Flanders, they " swear terribly." Teach them something about fortification, outpost duty, &c.—make the men ss handy with their spades and pickaxes as with their firelocks, and something will be gained : men and officers will be reconciled to camp life, by finding, what is not now the case, that they learn something by it. I am, Sir, UNE OF THE CRIMEAN LIGHT DIVISION.
Previous page
