Papurau Newydd Cymru

Chwiliwch 15 miliwn o erthyglau papurau newydd Cymru

Cuddio Rhestr Erthyglau

14 erthygl ar y dudalen hon

---IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. -

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IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. THF .VNSVAAi. CONVKXTIGX. In the Ho: LORDS, March 17. Lord Cadogan called attention the fact that Article 20 of the Con- vention between t'be Queen and the South African Republic, signed on the 27th of February that the Convention was to be ratified by the Volksraad of that Republie. He inquired why a similar provision had not been inserted in respect of ratification by the Imperial Parliament. He also asked wha^ would happen if the Boers did not ratify the Convention, as in that ease we should be left with the Convention of 1&&1 which had proved to be a dead letter and tne greater part of which had been abandoned by the Secretary for the Colonies in the course of the negotiations for the new Convention. Lord Derby explained that it never had been our constitutional practice to require Parliamentary ratification to treaties. The Sovereign power of the South African Republic being the Volksraad the ratification of the latter was necessary. It the new Convention were not ratified we should be just where we were before it was negotiated, but inasmuch as it had been obtained at the earnest desire of the Transvaal Government he thought the apprehension of Lord Cadogan on that head was an extraordinary one. „ The Marquis of Salisbury condemned the Convention as retrogressive, and after a few words from the Earl of Kimberley the subject dropped. Their lordships rose at twenty-five mmtues past five o'clock. THE SOUDAN. In the HOUSE OF COMMONS the Marquis of Harting- ton explained, in answer to Baron II. de Worms, that his recent statements in regard to the Red Sea ports was not that it was intended to hold any of the Red Sea ports, but was to the effect that the Government had from the first announced their intention to assist the Egyptian Government in the protection of the ports on the coast of the Red Sea. Her Majesty's Government, he added, had made no proposal to hand over the Red Sea ports to the Porte. Questioned by Mr. Ashmead-Bartlett and Baron H. de Worms with regard to the Government and Khartoum and the Soudan, the noble lord declined to give any further information upon the subject at present, but repeated that the Government would make a full statement as soon as they were in a position to do so. Replying to Sir H. D. "Weill", the Marquis of Har- tington stated that the Admiralty had telegraphed to Admiral Hewett asking whether it was true that a proclamation had been issued offering a reward for the capture of Osman Digna alive or dead, and point- ing out that a proclamation of such a character ought not to be put forth without communication with Sir E. Baring. MLMTATJY SERVICE. On going into Supply, Sir G. Campbell moved a reso- lution in favour of a system of military organization which would provide for two distinct classes of soldiers —short service men to stay at home and form a Reserve, and long service men to form an army for India and our foreign possessions. Lord Hartington dissented altogether from the sug- gestion but pointed out that a mixed system o. recruiting had been established as an experiment ot which it would be as well to see the working. After a short discussion, the motion was ne- gatived. THE HIGHLAND FEATHER BONNET. Sir H. Maxwell brought before the House the pro- posed discontinuance of the feather bonnet, of which he strongly disapproved. Dr. Farquharson, Colonel Stanley, Sir J. Hay, and Sir P. O'Brien spoke, the last named remarking with regard to most of the Scotch regiments that it was "all humbug" to pretend that they were recruited from Scotchmen. Mr. Brand announced that the IVtr Office would not come to any final decision this year, though no vote would be taken in the Estimates. THE ARMY ESTIMATES. Lord Hartington moved the Army Estimates. After explaining in detail the reductions and increases on the various votes, he dwelt at some length ou the general condition of the army. Last year, as he reminded the committee, he was obliged to admit a considerable deficiency in the number of men, and a great difficulty in supplying the necessary drafts. The terms of service, however, had been made more elastic-a bounty had been offered to induce men to remain in India, and to prolong their term of service abroad, and the general result had attracted more than 33,000 recruits, the largest number ever known for a single year. The Guards were now only 100 below their establishment, the Infantry of the Line about 5000 (the number being last year 8700), and more than 1000 men had been retained in India who would otherwise have returned home. There had also been a great reduction in the waste of the Army, but as it was certain that a large number of recruits would be required in the coming year, the mili- tary authorities had their attention constantly fixed on the importance of taking every possible step for in- creasing the popularity of the service. The Militia had contributed 12,000 men and the Volunteers some 1300. As to the quality of the men, he showed from the report that there was nothing to complain of, and he again referred to the Soudan operations as a proof of the serviceable qualities of the young recruits. But, on the whole, the short service system, he contended, gave us the means of filling even the weakest battalions with men in the prime of life and completely trained. Next he explained the detail of the proposed increase of the establishments, and among these he mentioned that the battalions in Egypt will be increased to the full colonial strength of 800, and that the battalions at home which are to take their place as first on the roster for foreign service will be brought up to their full strength. The total increase of the Infantry of the Line will be 2400 and with regard to the Artillery, he stated that four depots are to be formed—three in England and one in Ireland. The total strength of the available reserves is 60,000. Of the Militia, Yeomanry, and Volunteers, the reports were most favourable, and the present force of the latter is 209,38. of whom 202,428 are efficients. After giving some particulars of the Medical Service and the Army Hospital Corps, Lord Hartington related at some length the progress of the Ordnance Department. AV, ith regard to the heavy naval ordnance, three guns of 110 tons-the most powerful in the world-four of 63 tons, and three of 43 tons will be delivered this year, and the trials of the new 12-pounder breech-loading field guns have been of the most satisfactory character. Mr. Labouchere moved the reduction of the number of men on the establishment of the Army y main object in moving the resolution was seemed to him that the Government had too many soldiers at their disposal. They had had wars for the last 300 or 400 years, and he did not believe that in the case of a single war which history related it had been shown that the slightest service had been rendered to this country, or, indeed, that any of those wars were necessary. The Marquis of Hartington defended the vote as propped and appealed to the House to support the Government in the small addition which they proposed to make to the Army. The addition was owing to the ■"SKSSf ™ ivi.K.1 a* M, Labouchere's amendment 31; against, 162; majority against, 131. The vote was then agreed to. The House subsequently adjourned.

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