(EXTRACTED FROM THE DIARY OF TOBY, M.P.)
_House of Commons, Monday, 8th February._--Debate on Army Estimates
prefaced by statement from PRIME MINISTER casting gleam of lurid light
on a War of which this is the 190th day. Answering a question he said
the total number of British Army casualties in the Western area of the
War is approximately 104,000 of all ranks. This, of course, does not
include the death-roll in the Navy, a heavy tale of losses due far more
to mine and submarine than to fair fights on the open sea. But standing
alone it is not much less than one-half of the number of men, including
Militia, voted in the Waterloo year now dead a century. Numerically a
trifle compared with the huge gaps made in ranks of the enemy.
Nevertheless it represents sufficiently appalling sacrifice, chargeable
to the account of one man's whim.
[Illustration: "EXCEEDING THE WILDEST DREAMS OF MARLBOROUGH OR
WELLINGTON."]
Army Estimates for year, introduced by TENNANT in a speech equally lucid
and discreet, unique in their Parliamentary aspect. With an Army on
active service and in training exceeding in number the wildest dreams of
MARLBOROUGH or WELLINGTON, the aggregate sum asked for is £15,000. Seems
odd since, as UNDER SECRETARY FOR WAR in interesting aside stated, the
Army costs more in a week than the total estimate for the Waterloo
campaign, which stands on record at the modest sum of £6,721,880.
This only a little official joke designed partly to relieve tension of
critical times, chiefly to throw dust in eyes of enemy. Idea of Germany
cherished at War Office is that she is a sort of innocent Little Red
Riding Hood whose legitimate curiosity may be evaded either by
withholding information or mystifying it by administration of small
doses dealt out at safe intervals of time. Hence the Press Bureau, which
to-night came in for rough handling from both sides of House.
[Illustration: "IDEA OF GERMANY CHERISHED AT WAR OFFICE IS THAT SHE IS A
SORT OF INNOCENT LITTLE RED RIDINGHOOD."]
If usual detailed account of expenditure on Army were set forth, the
German General Staff would know exactly what was in front of them in
respect of reinforcement of the "contemptible little army" which seven
months ago embarked upon a crusade more self-sacrificing, more glorious
than any recorded in the story of Britain. Failing that, they naturally
know nothing and will go on blundering in the dark.
Accordingly Votes submitted to-night were what the Treasury calls
"token" estimates, each thousand pounds of the fifteen representing
untold millions to be expended on various services of the War. On this
understanding, Committee, practically without debate, amidst stern but
quietly expressed determination to go on to the end at whatever cost,
voted an establishment of three million men.
_Business done._--Army Estimates in Committee of Supply.
_Tuesday._--For first time since reassembling House sat up to closing
hour, 11 o'clock. Discussion of Army Estimates resumed. Committee has
advantage of WALTER LONG'S lead of Opposition. Shrewd, tactful,
conciliatory. Among miscellaneous Questions coming up was condition of
some of the huts contracted for by War Office. WALTER LONG associated
himself with sharp criticism offered from various quarters.
The MEMBER FOR SARK regrets that engagement out of town prevented his
taking part in the discussion.
"I happen to know something at first hand about the matter," he says. "I
spend my week-ends in a district which, lying on direct route for the
Front, swarms with detachments of recruits in training. In the late
autumn, huts were built for their accommodation. Quite nice comfortable
things to look at. Some stand on desirable sites overlooking land and
sea.
"All very well as long as autumn weather lasted. But the winter told
another tale. Season exceptionally wet. Sinful rottenness of these
so-called habitations speedily discovered. Rain poured through the roofs
as if they were made of brown paper. Nor was that all, though our poor
fellows found it sufficient. When wind blew with any force it carried
the rain through the walls of the huts, formed of thin laths, in some
cases overlapping each other by not more than a quarter of an inch.
Pitilessly rained upon in their beds, the men dressing for morning
parade found their khaki uniforms and underclothing soaking wet. After
this had been stood for a week or ten days, the huts were condemned and
the recruits billeted upon inhabitants of neighbouring town.
"This not mere gossip, you understand. Circumstances simply related to
me by the men themselves, some interrupting narrative with fits of
coughing inevitable result of nightly experience. Nor were they
complaining. Just mentioned the matter as presumably unavoidable episode
in preliminary stage of career of men giving up all and risking their
lives to save their country.
"What I want to know is, What has been done in particular cases such
as this that must have come under notice of War Office? Have the
contractors got clear away without punishment, or have they been made
to disgorge? FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO WAR OFFICE stated in course of
debate that average cost of these encampments amounted to £13 per
man. In cases where huts are condemned, is the sorely-burdened but
cheerfully-suffering taxpayer finding the money all over again, or is
the peccant contractor made to stump up?"
_Business done._--Still harping on Army Estimates.
_House of Lords, Thursday._--Death of Lord LONDONDERRY, buried to-day
near his English home, Wynyard Park, universally regretted. A strong
Party man, he had no personal enemies in the Opposition ranks, whether
in Lords or Commons. Unlike some distinguished Peers, notably Lord
ROSEBERY, he enjoyed advantage, inestimable in public life, of serving
an apprenticeship in the House of Commons, where he sat six years for
the Irish constituency which his famous forebear represented in the
Irish Parliament. He was born into politics. His earliest conviction,
thorough as were all he entertained, was one of distrust for DON JOSÉ,
who at the time when he sat in the House of Commons was carrying through
the country the fiery cross of The Unauthorised Programme.
This feeling later replaced by dislike of GLADSTONE, who in the year
after Lord CASTLEREAGH, at the age of thirty-two, succeeded to the
Marquisate, brought in his Home Rule Bill.
That was the turning point in LONDONDERRY's public life. Hitherto he had
toyed with politics as part of the recreation of a wealthy aristocrat.
Thenceforward he devoted himself heart and soul to withstanding the
advance of Home Rule, which he lived long enough to see enacted, Death
sparing him the pang of living under its administration.
In his devotion to the fighting line rallied against Home Rule he was
encouraged and sustained by a power behind the domestic throne perhaps,
as has happened in historical cases, more dominant than its occupant.
_Cherchez la femme._ Londonderry House became the spring and centre of
an influence that had considerable effect upon political events during
more than a quarter of a century.
LONDONDERRY's cheery presence will be missed in the Lords. His memory
will be cherished as that of one who fought stoutly for causes sacred to
a large majority of his peers.
_Business done._--PREMIER made promised statement on subject of food
prices. Debate following was adjourned.
* * * * *
[Illustration: WHAT OUR ENEMY HAS TO PUT UP WITH.