Mr. Arnold-Forster's speeches in the two debates do not seem
to us to get the matter much forward. There is some- thing to be said for his refusal to curtail the number of battalions of the Regular Army, and his desire rather to reduce the strength of battalions in order that the cadres may remain ready for an emergency. With this argument we do not seriously quarrel. But he must be aware that it is his Volunteer and Militia policy which is rousing real opposition, and on this point he is, in his own phrase, "impenitent." He repeated his old story about present Volunteer inefficiency, and justified a reduction on the ground that only by this means could better men and better training be ensured. He claimed to be of the "blue-water" school, and those who believed in the likelihood of invasion should face the logical conclusion of their belief and organise the Home Army on Continental models. But he gave no indication that he understood the case of his opponents as stated so admirably by Sir Edward Grey. On the division on Tuesday the amendment was only rejected by 43 (234 against 191).
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