Before leaving the subject of the debate raised by Mr.
Beckett, we must note the very grave facts adduced by him to justify his Motion. He declared that the shortage in the Army amounted to eighteen thousand men, and contended that the three years' enlistment system had proved a failure. Mr. Arnold-Forster, though he denied that recruiting as a whole had fallen off, admitted that the three years system had had a prejudicial effect on the Indian and Colonial drafts. The number of men who had extended their service in this country was much below the estimated figure. The total number of infantry soldiers who had extended in the United Kingdom was, indeed, only nine hundred, but he was confident that those whose three years expired in India; would extend their service in large numbers. We do not want to encourage any feeling of panic in the matter, but it is clear that things , have been allowed to drift into a most dangerous condition.
Previous page
