Page:Encyclopædia Britannica, Ninth Edition, v. 2.djvu/636

1. Regular Forces. Enlist ment of soldiers. 1. Staff and Kegimental Pay and Allowances 5,072, 500 2,3,4. Divine Service, Law, and Medical Service 321,200 5,393,700 2. Auxiliary and Reserve Forces. 5, 6. Militia and Yeomanry 894,300 7, 8 Volunteers Army Reserve 553,500 1,447,800 3. Control Establishments and Services. 9. Control Establishments, Wages, &c 389,000 10. Provisions, Forage, Fuel, Transport, &c 1,980,700 11. Clothing Establishments and Services 743,100 12. Supply and Manufacture of Warlike Stores, 1,07. 0,000 4,182,800 4. Works and Buildings. 13. Works, Buildings, and Repairs 778,000 5. Various Services. 14, 15, 16. Administration, Education, and Miscellaneous, 303,700 6. Non-effective Services. 17, 18. Pay of General Officers, and Eewards 115,400 19. Retired Officers Full and Half Pay 527,900 20. Widows Pensions, &c 147,300 21, 22, 23. In and Out Pensions, and ditto for Wounds, 1,267,500 24, 25. Superannuation Allowances 192,300 2,250,400 Total Effective and Non-Effective Services 14,416,400

The whole of the military forces of England are raised by voluntary enlistment. Recruiting for the army is carried on partly by means of the large staff of non-commissioned officers attached to the brigade depots, partly by means of pensioners receiving a special rate of pay while so employed, and partly by sergeants or parties sent out by regiments and corps for the purpose the whole being under the superintendence of the colonel commanding the brigade district. Infantry regiments of the line recruit as far as possible within the districts to which they are attached.; but the cavalry, artillery, engineers, guards, and rifles recruit throughout the country generally. Enlistment in the army is regulated by the annual Mutiny Act and the Army Enlistment Act ; the former legalises the maintenance of an army, and lays down the number of men and manner of enlisting them; the latter fixes the period and conditions of service. By the Enlistment Act of 1870 men are enlisted for a first period of twelve years, which may be spent either entirely in the army, or partly in the army and partly in the reserve, as may from time to time be fixed by the Secretary of State for War. At present " short service " is fixed at six years in the army and six in the reserve for infantry, and eight years in the army and four in the reserve for the other branches. The Household cavalry, and a certain proportion in the other branches, are enlisted for "long service," i.e., twelve years in the ranks.

On the completion of twelve years army service, soldiers may be allowed to re-engage for nine years, making a total of twenty-one, at the end of which they are entitled to discharge with a pension. Those who are passed into the. army reserve remain liable for the rest of their twelve years engagement to be recalled into the ranks in case of war or national emergency, and to be called out for eight days training in each year; but otherwise resume their positions as citizens, and are free to follow their callings.

A recruit for the army must be between 18 and 25 years of age, unmarried, free from physical infirmities, and of such height and chest measurement as may be laid down from time to time. The standard has frequently varied, having been used as a means of regulating the supply of recruits, but stood in 1873 at a minimum of 5 fee t 5 inches for the infantry, 5 feet 6 inches for light cavalry and engineers, 5 feet 7 inches for gunners, and 5 feet 8 inches for heavy cavalry ; the minimum chest measurement being 33 inches. For rifle regiments and for artillery drivers the standard is reduced to 5 feet 4J inches, but increased chest measurement is required. Exceptions are also made ill favour of artificers and others. When a recruit presents himself for enlistment he is asked certain questions as to age, and whether he has served before ; if the answers are satisfactory, and he is otherwise suitable, he is given a shilling as enlistment money, and served with a notice warning him to attend before a magistrate for attestation. Within not less than twenty-four, and not more than ninety- six hours he is brought before the magistrate. If he then dissents from his enlistment, he may be discharged on payment of 20s. "smart money;" if he still wishes to enlist, he makes a declaration contained in the attesta tion paper as to his age, place of birth, trade, &c. ; signs the attestation, and takes the oath of allegiance ; and is thenceforth legally a soldier. Xo recruit, however, is finally accepted until he has been examined by a medical officer, and approved by an officer of rank detailed for the purpose. Formerly, recruiting was carried on largely at public-houses kept for the purpose ; young men were entrapped by lying placards or by the misrepresentations of recruiting agents, and often enlisted whilst drunk, and then sent under escort to their regiments. Recently great improvements have been made in the recruiting service : the bounties formerly offered, and varying from 1 to 10, according to the demand for recruits, have been abolished, exaggerated placards forbidden, the recruiting taken away as much as possible from the public-houses, and the young soldier sent by himself to join his regiment. Under the system of long service the annual number of recruits required to keep up the army was from 8 to 10 per cent, of its strength, but in future the proportion will be largely increased. The average number actually raised annually was 16,000 in the ten years 1860-9, and 21,000 in the three years 1870-2 ; the largest number raised in any one year since the war being 28,000, in 1859.

The rates of daily pay of the soldier and of the non- ray. commissioned ranks are shown in the following table:—

Rank. Infantry. Cavalry. Artillery. Engineers. Private . a. 1 s. d. 1 2 . d. 1 2i f. d. 1 H Corporal 1 3 1 6i 2 1 2 li Sergeant 1 11 2 3 2 9 2 9| Colour-Sergeants & ) from Staff-Sergeants, f to 2 5 3 3 3 1 3 7 3 3 4 2 3 3i 4 7l

The Household cavalry, horse artillery, and some ranks

of the foot guards, receive a higher rate of pay, and the engineers usually earn working pay in addition. Every soldier further receives a free ration of bread and meat, valued at 6d. * Taking into consideration the value of the ration, lodgings, clothing, fuel, and light, the pay and allowances of the infantry private represent an average annual value of about 38, and that of the cavalry private about 41, exclusive of any prospective advantages in the way of pension ; while the corporals and sergeants range from 45 to 70. Comparing this with the annual receipts of the average labourer, which range between 35 and 45 in different counties of England and Scotland, and are much lower in Ireland, and bearing in mind that the soldier as a rule is called on to do less work, it is evident that his position on the whole is not a disadvantageous one. In addition to the above, the soldier may earn Id. a day good-conduct pay after 2 years service, 2d. a day after 6 years , 3d. after 12 years , and 4d. after 18 years service.

The amount to which the soldier is entitled is indicated by