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Show ESSLAXD'S J11LITART FORCE. In time of war Euglaud has not, for a long period, relied greatly on her military power. The navy was her great strength : and gold secured mercenaries mer-cenaries to do much of her military work. Still, the present inefficient condition of the British army is creating creat-ing some excitement in England, in view of the possibility of that country being engaged in war. The effective strength of the regular army at present is put at S0,000 men, of all arms, with close on 100,000 militia ; but the latter are poorly equipped and armed.. The volunteer corps, which five years ago were said to number 400,000 men, arc-now arc-now placed at 175,000, and these are but partially orgauized and poorly officered. offi-cered. All told, England could hardly command the services of 350,000 men, if war were suddenly to break out. This is a poor showing when compared with the vast armies of leading Euro pean nations, though her navy is very large and powerful. Strange means are talked of to increase in-crease the land forces in the event oi war. Some compulsory m?a-ure is spoken of, as likely to be nasSed by Parliament, in the shape of a conscription con-scription or draft act, or even to call out all able-bodied men between certain ages, with the privilege of buying buy-ing off the liability to serve. Such a measure would be exceedingly unpopular unpopu-lar and would be approaclied by Parliament Par-liament with caution, for the elements of dissatisfaction in the country would be stirred into unusual activity by its enforcement. Tel it seems a compulsory compul-sory measure of some kind would be an absolute necessity. The recruiting service is succeeding but pooiiy in filling up the ranks. A iutc cid.r uvu, the Horse Guards, quietly issued, has reduced the standard for recruits almost al-most as low as during the Crimean war, but the recruits do not come as rapidly as desired. The army is not a popular arm of the service. - A "blue, jacket'' is a favorite with the masses where a lired coat'' is spumed or viewed view-ed contemptuously; and the difficulties difficul-ties in getting men to take the enlisting enlist-ing "shilling" are not few. So great were they during the wars with the first Napoleon, and so many artilices had to be resorted to for the purpose of securing recruits, that beer and spirit-sellers were compelled to substitute substi-tute glass tumblers in place of horn goblets and pewter measures, that drinkeramightsee they were not being entrapped into the service by drinking the King's health with a shilling in the bottom of their goblet or measure. This was often done, and the recruiting re-cruiting sergeant, not 'troubled with a very tender conscience, would swear they had "taken the shilling in the King's name," when they were declared duly enlisted. This shows how difficult it was to get recruits, re-cruits, and the public feeling is little changed. "Impressing" men for the navy was permitted, for the navy was the pride of the country; but a conscription con-scription or draft for the regular army was not resorted to. The prospects are, that if England enters into a war where a strong military mili-tary force is required, and has to adopt coercive means to secuic a sufficient augmentation of the army, she will stir up intestino troubles, by arousing feelings feel-ings that may be even stronger than patriotism or love tor national triumph. |