On this page
-
Text (1)
-
Untitled Article
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
-
-
Transcript
-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
Untitled Article
were broug materials and that -wealth which were necessary for carrying on the war against us . The principal part of the profits derived from the existing commerce in tlie Black Sea was passing into the hands of the Greeks , because the English merchants , when they heard of the establishment of a blockade , were foolish enough to put confidence in the Government , and to believe that a blockade would really be established . No English house there had entered into any business speculation , or shipped any produce for our shores ; but the Greeks , more astute , and looking "with more impartial eyes at the Government that held the reins of power in this country , after a short
time finding that no blockade really was established , disbelieved the Government , and began to enter again into trade , and up to the present hour they had continued the ordinary shipments that English merchants had ceased . It had been well said by a French writer that a war on a great scale became a war of budgets . All the signs of weakness had begun to be shown by Russia ; the Emderor had found the same difficulty as that found by his first antagonist , Turkey—the difficulty of raising money . This had recently been shown by M . LeV > n Faucher , in a very damaging article published by him in the Revue des Deua Mondes , describing the real financial position of Russia , how weak her resources
were , how much she would require in order to enable her to carry on the war , how her loans had all been rejected , and how her finances could not hold out for more than one more campaign such as that of ' 54 . When we saw those signs of weakness it became our duty to press on that weak point—not to confine ourselves to the blockade of Sebastopol , but to take care that no shipments should be made at any Russian port . It was unfortunate that we bad , no * taken possession of the straits leading into the Sea of Azoff , for in May last they were defended only by a few invalids . Every paTt of the Russian munitions of war all came down the Don and the Volga , and were shipped by the Sea of Azoff to
Sebastopol , which was only about 100 miles off . It Would have been easy then to have cut off tie Russian supplies ; but since that time they had fortified the depot at which they debarked their stores brought from the interior . The Government must be careful what part of Germany they got soldiers from , for he had seen thousands of wretches sent from the central parts of Germany as colonists who were an object of thorough contempt to the inhabitants of the countries they were sent into . The German nation three centuries ago had a struggle with their monarchs like the struggle of the le of
peop England two centuries ago with Charles I . The result of that struggle , however , was different—in England , it was the people who were victorious ; in Germany , it was the kings . Prior to that time the German people were animated by as great a spirit of liberty as ourselves ; but since that they had degenerated both physically and morally . And the fatal ' system of hiring mercenaries had done a , great deal towards that degeneration . If men belonging to that unhappy race were brought before the Russians , they would hardly be worthy of being chased off the field by Russian bayonets . "
Mr . Phillips thought that the Executive could judge of the matter better than he could—he should , therefore , support the bill . Mr . Ajlcock . could not consider the bill the only alternative . He mentioned moral force as compared to physical force in the army , and urged that the I Caucasians would fight with any nation against ltussia . Admiral Walcott considered that the introduction of foreign soldiers would tarnish the honour of the country . Some utterly irrelevant remarks closed the debate for that ( lay .
The debate on Thursday was resumed by Mr . Connolly , who criticised the opposition favourably , and thought Lord John . Russell and the Secretary-sit-War had made a pitiable exhibition . When Government were asked for explanations , the Bccretary-at-War or Lord Palmerston mystified them with details . Ho objected , in very violent language , to tho introduction of Gorman mercenaries .
Mr Collier said tho only question was whether this measure , which he had rather not adopt , was necessary or not . Tho Government asserted it was , the Opposition , that it was not . Which hud the best means of information ? Tho Government , although they might have reasons for withholding them . The Cornmandor-in-Chief and Lord Raglan deemed this moasuro requisite , and he thought ho sliould incur a moat fearful responsibility if he refused to the Government a moans of carrying on tho
war . Mr . Nnw « iiiaA . Tnj observed that , of all troops in tlie world , mercenaries wore tho most liable to corruption , and Russia was prodigal of treasure for such a purpose . If an emergency existed , tho Government might in loss than four months transport to tho Crimea a body of disciplined troops from India , with no Russian sympathies . Ho opposed the measure because it wan futilo in itsolf , and calculated to I provont tho country from putting forth its energies Wlulo an obvious roaourco was noglocted .
Mr -, ^ " « eli > suggested whether , as the argu" ?™ . {*^* 5 ? fairlv w ° ™ out , and the principle' the bill had b ^ affirmed by tlie House , the question of going into committee should not be at once brought to issue . Mr . Diska-eli justified the conduct of mB -porty in the course they had previously followed , but suggested that the bill should then'be allowed to pass the stage of committee , all further opposition being reserved for the third reading . After a few words from IiOrd J . Russell , Mr . Packe , and Mr . Bright , the House went into committee , with the understanding that there was to be a debate on general policy last ( Friday ] evening .
Mr . L . King then proposed that the old system of half-pay for the foreign troops should not be continued . They should be paid well at once . Mr . Sidney Herbert explained that half-pay was not intended , but he thought pensions for wounds desirable . ^ Foreign troops would have no claim ou the Patriotic Fund . Mr . Henley inquired about the wives and children of the enlisted , to which Mr . Herbert replied that , as far as possible , single men would be chosen . The wives of married men might precede them to the colonies . Mr . Henley said , as sure as fate tlie country would be overrun "with their wives and children calliog for maintenance .
In answer to Captain Knox , Mr . Herbert stated that in the last war the officers were principally Germans . Mr . Otway suggested that xuany of the half-pay officers should be employed , to which Mr . Herbekt replied that nearly all who were nt were already- in active service . With respect to quartering the men that must be left to ' the Executive . After a great deal of discussion , during which Lord John Edssell assured several members that there was no intention of billeting the troops , all clauses were agreed to , and the bill was " reported . "
MILITIA . BILI ,. On Monday the Militia Bill went through committee in the House of Commons . On Tuesday it was read a third time and passed , and carried into the House of Lords , when the Duke of Newcastle , in moving the first resolution , suggested that it should be read a second time on Thursday , and passed through committee the same evening . The second reading was moved on Thursday by the Duke of Newcastle , who detailed briefly the
merits of the bill . It was highly important that , in the spring , Government should be able to send to the Crimea those regiments now on Mediterranean service . The object of the till was to supply their place by militia , indeed , they had already anticipated the measure , by drawing some of the troops from Malta . The enlistment would be perfectly voluntary on the part of every individual officer and private . If tney volunteered to go to Malta , Government would have no power to transfer them to the Ionian Islands .
" The noble lord opposite ( the Earl of Ellcnborough ) raised an objection which was perfectly tenable , although its intention never was such aa lie described . He said that Government would be empowered by this bill to send all the militia abroad , and might substitute other troops for them here . Undoubtedly this bill was first drawn in such a shape that all the militia might be sent abroad , although in tho working of it , necessarily , a certain proportion must have been left in this country , as was the case with regiments of the lino . But , as tho bill now came to their Lordships' House , not more than
three-fourths of any militia regiment could bo accepted for foreign service , and one-fourth must remain to form a depot in this country . Another alteration , n manifest improvement , bad also beon made in this bill . It was not right , perhaps , considering the possible duration of this war , that militia regiments should be enabled , at onco , to volunteer for foreign service during the continuance of the war ; and thoro was a limit of live years , therefore , to bo placed on tho term of sorvico , for which they might volunteer to go abroad , that being tho limit for which militia regiments wore originally enlisted . "
The 35 arl of Derby objected to this bill , for it ¦ would rather impede tho object intended , and would have tho inconvenience of totally changing tho clmructor of the militia . 11 That foreo "was dunl ^ ned nlrlutly to maintain domcHtic tranquillity ami preserve tho country from invn-Hion , and enable us to diupciiHG with ( . he » orvioca within the kingdom of tho ninall Htaiuling army wo poHHcsacrt . Ho thought our jealousy of tlvo ( standing army had boon
of livtu yfliUH ( uirriod to an unroaaonubki extent , and r <> - ducll < m « , urged by a false economy , had led uh now into dillluultloH . Tho garriaoim of Malta and the Ionian ImIaimIh had been reduced by tlui ofTioerH in command thoro , on their own rcHponriilolily and to their ^ ront credit , Mending troops to the Oimoii . Mo upprovod wl tho proportion , which canio , ho Hunp < sct , od , ruthor from tho old Huporsudod Ilorso Guards than from tho modern War Department , to form additional baUnliontt in every regiment , and placo tho additional baltalionn in tho
Mediterranean . It would be infinitely better to feed the army thence than to send the militia to the Mediterranean . And if the militia went out there , how could the army be recruited from the militia ?" Insteaa of siding the militia out of the country , the men should be induood to enter the line . "It was saw iw this would v , purely voluntary service ; and no doubt it was so in T ^ e t a y although it was scarcely consistent with the vui ^ J ^? principle that every militia regiment should be required , as the noble duke said , to send 25 per cent , of its men to the army . The noble duke had laid much stress on the voluntary character of this proceeding , and had said that there were more offers from the militia than could be accepted to volunteer for foreign service . "
"No doubt this was the case , but they had been entrapped step by step , which would prevent the militia supply being kept up . " A noble friend of his suggested the question what was to become of a man of small means in the militia who had insured his life , and who would forfeit his insurance by going abroad , and to ask him to do that was pushing the voluntary principle to its utmost extent . He was reminded that by the proposition of his right honourable friend in the other House the number of militia going abroad was limited to three-fourths of each regiment , and there was much amusement caused when the question was asked when three-fourths went out how
many would remain , and it was answered ' one-fourth . ' N " , the fact was that the provision of the bill was that only three-fourths of the * establishment' of each regiment should go . The numerical strength of tie establishment of such regiment was 1200 men ; but if 900 only were enlisted , and you could by the provisions of the bill send three-fourths of the establishment , that would be three-fourths of 1200 , and , there being only 9 00 enlisted , none would be left at home . If that were so , the Government had acceded to the amendment in letter only and not in spirit , the intention being that there should always be one-fourth of the actual strength of a regiment left at home . " e . -
The noble lord then adverted to the case of the medical officers , most of whom had local connexions which they would forfeit by going abroad for five years , and who would receive no half-pay on their return . Earl Grey repeated generally Lord Derby ' s arguments . He , however , would not oppose the bill . Lord Denma . n and the Duke of Arc vll defended the measure . Lord Elleuborougii then repeated the former objections . He urged strongly that a larger body of militia was to be employed than would be required , suid contrasted it with the provisions of the bill of 1813 . He thought eleven regiments for Mediterranean services alb that were required . He was willing to grant that number , and would move an amendment to that effect in committee .
Hie Earl of Glengall expressed a wish thnt compensation should be made for wounds as it was in the line , The bill was then road si second time , and the House went into committee . Lord Ellenbouough then proposed his amendment , which was subsequently negatived , and all the clauses agreed to . The bill was then committed , and ordered to be read a third time on Friday ( yesterday ) .
ADMINISTRATION OF THIS WAR . Previously to the second reading of the Militia Bill , and during the debate , some discussion ensued on a guostion from the Marquis of Salisbury relative to the inefficiency of the blockades in the Black and White Seas . Tlio Duke of Njowcasti . k objected to explain without regular notice . Lord Durby eaid , as the admirals had been thanked , lie supposed they were not in fault , but had merely hail no orders . Tho Earl of Hakdwickk inquired into the particulars of tho exchange of the frigate Thetis for two gun-boats from tho Prussian Government . Ho characterised the exchange as almost criminal , tin 1 Thetis being Woith 40 , 000 / . or 50 , 000 / ., and the gunboats worth only G 00 ( rf . each . Tho Karl of Ola-HiCNuoN jocularly replied that Prussia proposed
to exchange their bouts for what they called ' donkeys *'—but "her Majesty ' s Ministers had no donkeys they wished to « ct rid o \\ and they therefore made tho arrangement complained of . Tho gunboats wore much wanted by Government hint - Tune , but since then they hml omlcnvourcd to got oil their bargain , to which , however , Prussia hold them . Ho contended Hint tho uxchunKo was by mo moans a loss on our aide , and iho Karl of Hnrdwiuko was quite mistaken in hi « estimated . Tho Karl of IIaiuhvickic tliou Avishevl to know who were the responsible ofllcors at Balakluvu , ami how it happened that , uncording to tho accounts ola correspondent of tho limvx , I : hero vns nobody to take the least caro of such a vessel as thu Prince , which wiu > ofiiimuMifiu value . After «<> ii > i » enlh'itf on the want ot knowledge of tho captain of tho Priuco , ho com-
Untitled Article
¦¦ WHI ^ BaWMHIWMHiw ' there ht back those es 1201 THE LEADER . | Satukda * ,
-
-
Citation
-
Leader (1850-1860), Dec. 23, 1854, page 1204, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2070/page/4/
-