Show THE BRITISH MILITARY FORCES 0 o thid THE difficulties 1 of the nile campaign have again azain brought up for discussion the question of the strength of great britain as a military power the facts show anat she has given the burden of her warlike ideas to the construction of the most magnificent ma navy in the world to the comparative neglect of extending her military facilities A few years ago we visited one of the british ironclads iron of the most improved pattern pa attern and including the most power 1 tul tui weapons of naval warfare among which was an e eighty 1 aty ton gun 8 so 0 adjusted as to require the application of but little physical strength ito effectively handle it the crew was composed of picked men active muscular darin daring darlng fellows whose appearance de noted that they would to any other pursuit taking thaties thau that vessel selas sessel as a sample there should be but little wonder that england has so long her supremacy on the seas although the british army is small compared with that of germany eranee france austria tria trim or russia it is probably not excelled for effectiveness so far fat as it goes but the comparative absence of numerical strength would be disastrous in the event ot 61 her becoming in r involved in warlike troubles in several remote parts of the tho world at the same time of which there appears to be a fair prospect when the aggressive movements of russia germany and france franca are considered tae british regular army is placed at about men and nearly half of them are required for service in india ani and the colonies while ireland takes the greater part of the remander remainder and when deductions for garrisons schools of instruction and non tion effectives have been made wade not more than men are available for service abroad it is said the reserves swell the fighting power of england to men or somewhat more but the militia yeomanry and dolunt ers cannot be called out except upon the declaration of a european war or to repel an invasion there are area many reasons why mr gladstone should prefer to accept assistance si from italy rather than call for soldiers from india or permit the Turks to enter the soudan there are now nearly 2700 E english soldiers massed on the nile and with their martin martini henry rines rifles they can repel the arabs as s long iong as they have ample ammunition and food so it is held heid by high milita military IT authorities and reinforced by a few thousand more they could probably 1 prosecute I 1 rose cute the campaign to a speedy and successful issue but while the british are in active service at the f front the aid of an ally to f furnish arnish men to hold in the meantime the garrisons in egypt is indispensable |