Mr. Cardwell, in moving the Military Estimates on Thursday, described
his Army Reorganization Scheme in a speech which seems to have gained approval from all sides of the House. We have described its main feature, the close linking of the Army with the Reserves of all kinds effected by localizing the forces in sixty-six districts, each with its own commanding officer, staff, and build- ings, elsewhere, but must mention here that all the War-Office plans with respect to officers seem to be succeeding. So far from the Abolition of Purchase having caused a stampede, much of the money voted last year has been returned to the Exchequer, the estimate for this year will be reduced by 25 per cent., and officers who were eagerly seeking positions in .the Control Department are returning to the Army. The rule that two years' satisfactory service in the Militia shall be a passport into the Line has so in- creased the popularity of that service, that instead a a deficiency of 487 subalterns there is a surplus of 36 ; while a new rule that officers may retire on half-pay for ten years if they will serve in the Militia, is expected to yield a large supply of very experienced men.
