A REGIMENT OF INFANTRY.

THE Condition of an infantry regiment of the line as we now find it is the outcome of several important changes in the systems of recruiting and organisation effected during the last sixteen years, and grafted on to the old regimental system previously existing. The first of these changes inaugurated, in 1871, the principle of a short term of service with the colours, followed by a period in the reserve, in place of a long engagement with the former alone, which had been found no longer to attract the required number of recruits, while it possessed the further serious disadvantage that it did not allow an efficient reserve to be formed. The second introduced, in 1873, the localisation scheme, having for its object the permanent association of regiments with certain defined districts from which the recruits required by them were to be, as far as possible, exclusively drawn. The Militia and Rifle Volunteer Corps situated in the respective districts were also brought into the system and affiliated to the line formations.

The last of the series of changes was effected in 1881, and aimed at the amalgamation of the units of the line and Militia, situated within each of the several recruiting districts created by the localisation scheme, into territorial regiments, having in the majority of cases a local title. Each of these regiments-with one or two exceptions, which were not brought under the system-consisted of two line battalions, one or more Militia battalions, and a depôt, common to all, situated in the regimental district that was to form the recruiting area for the entire regiment. The Volunteer corps in these districts were attached to the territorial regiment, the title of which they have in a large number of cases adopted, in place of the distinctive titles they previously possessed.

The period that has elapsed since the introduction of short service has allowed of many modifications, shown by experience to be desirable, being effected in the scheme, amongst others the very important one lengthening the term with the colours from six to seven years; and it may now be fairly regarded as in complete working order. The localisation for recruiting purposes, of which the institution of territorial regiments was the complement, has not had an equal advantage in point of time; while from the nature of the case its

development must of necessity be more uncertain and gradual. Nevertheless, the system has taken firm root and made good progress in many parts of the United Kingdom, the large majority of the recruits required annually for the territorial regiments being in many instances drawn from the districts to which they respectively belong.

Many years may probably elapse before it will have attained to its full development in every part of the country; and some districts, on account of their shifting population, can never be expected to give such satisfactory results as others more favourably situated. A fair estimate, however, of the normal conditions resulting from the system may be gathered from the analysis of a regiment belonging to a district in which the circumstances are favourable, as we find it at the present time. It must not be inferred from this that the most favourable instance will be cited, or that it is an exceptional one, for this is not the case. There are other districts giving still better results, and it was stated by the Inspector-General of Recruiting in his last annual Report, that on the 1st of January there were forty-one regiments supplying themselves with recruits from their own districts exclusively.

The one selected has been chosen as a type of those whose recruiting area embraces chiefly an agricultural district, and in which consequently the population are, generally speaking, stationary. The regiment connected with this district has one of its line battalions stationed in the United Kingdom and the other in India; the Militia of the county forms its third and fourth battalions, and it has four Volunteer battalions attached to it.

The establishments of the line battalions and the depôt have been fixed by the estimates of the current year at the following numbers, and the strength of each of them is actually in excess of these figures, so far as the privates are concerned.

These establishments are fixed on certain definite principles. The battalion at home has three important functions to perform. Of these, the first is to form on mobilisation, with the help of its regimental reserves, a field battalion numbering one thousand rank and file, all fully trained soldiers of a year's service, and over twenty years of age; the second to furnish annually the draft required to

1887

A REGIMENT OF INFANTRY.

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make good the deficiencies in the battalion abroad; and the third to provide for the practical military training for war of both officers and men. These considerations have unfortunately been too often neglected; the establishments in the past having been a very variable quantity, changed constantly according to the immediate requirements of the estimates, and fixed frequently at a strength quite inadequate for efficiency. With the present strength, the requirements can be fulfilled in the battalion referred to, which has a present strength of 772 rank and file, whereas the regimental reserves comprise 458 in the First-class Army Reserve and 344 in the Militia Reserve. These requirements could equally be met in each of the twenty-five battalions of which the infantry of the First Army Corps for service would be composed; but of the rest there re many not at present in a position to fulfil them.

The battalion in India has to be maintained at a strength to mit of its taking the field at short notice, without previous reforcements from home, and to ensure this the establishment has tely been increased by 100 men.

The depôt is provided with a small permanent establishment, fficient to perform the necessary barrack duties, and to provide for e training of the recruits, all of whom receive their first instrucn there after enlistment, and are in excess of the permanent ength.

The following is the distribution of the home battalion, as regards

he services of the non-commissioned officers and men are as

e average age of the sergeants is about twenty-nine, and the