The B. A., in all its completeness, is supposed to be commanded by the sovereign, assisted by the secretary of state for war in some matters, and by the officer command ing in chief in others. The component elements are the household troops; the infantry of the line; the cavalry of the line; the ordnance corps, comprising artillery and engi neers; other bodies of native troops, maintained out of the revenues of India; the militia; the yeomanry cavalry; the reserve; the volunteer artillery and rifles; and some times during war, foreign legions. The "peace establishment" of the B. A. varies according to the political aspect of affairs abroad, and to the strength of the economiz ing principle at home. In 1814, when England was engaged in tremendous contests abroad, the regular army reached 200,000 men, exclusive of fencibles, foreign legions, and militia. In the first few years after the termination of the great war against Napo leon, the reductions in the B. A. involved the compulsory retirement of no less than 10,000 military officers, who thereupon went on half-pay; these, by filling vacancies, transfers, and deaths, have nearly disappeared. The elasticity which permits the enlargement or contraction of the army arises from varying, not so much the number of regiments, as the number of battalions in a regiment, of companies in a battalion, or of men in a company. If we compare the strength of the regular army at various periods between 1820 and 1879, we shall find that the actual number of recipients has varied but little, the difference of strength being made up in the three modes just men tioned.
The strength of the B. A. declined from 1815 to 1835, since which last-mentioned year it has increased. These augmentations have been occasioned partly by the con tests in China, India, Kaffraria, Persia, the Crimea, Afghanistan, and Zululand, and partly by a sense of insecurity amid the vast armaments of the continent. In compar ing the strength of the forces at different periods, much confusion is apt to arise from different modes of interpreting the words "British army." This designation may include the whole of the royal troops in India, whether supported out of imperial or of Indian revenues; it may include the militia, the volunteers, the yeomanry cavalry, the foreign legions—or it may exclude any one or more of these. The " British army," and the "military force of the British empire," are often treated as convertible terms: to the production of much confusion where actual numbers are given. In the follow
ing table, relating to the official year 1879-80, it is shown of what component elements the B. A. now consists. The militia and the volunteer corps are not here included.
Under the column "India," are included only those troops of the royal army which at'e lent to India, and paid for out of Indian revenues; the other military forces in that region are enumerated under EAST INDIA ARMY. Of the total 190,600 forming her majesty's forces, 7980 are officers; 16,550 non-commissioned officers, drummers, and trumpeters; and 166,070 rank and file. There are voted for the use of this army, 11,325 horses. The total cost cannot well be estimated per head; because, besides pay and sustenance for the soldiers, there are stores and wages for fortifications and military buildings, military weapons and combustibles, and the various kinds of half-pay and pensions. The total expenditure sanctioned by parliament may, however, conveniently be thrown under four headings, and given in round numbers as follows: Pay and allowance of combatants . ... £4,944,200 Auxiliary and reserve forces 1,258,500 Stores and and works of every kind........ 6,817,200 Pensions, militia, volunteers, etc... .. 2,625,800 £15,645,700 —being the charge for a peace establishment, in which to admit of expansion for actual war, the upper ranks (which cannot be summarily created) are disproportionately large. For the sum taken in aid of the army estimates to meet the expenses for raising and training the recruits, and for the non-effective services of the European army serving in India, a separate estimate was presented (1879-80), amounting to £1,100,000.
All the component elements of the army, in personnel and materiel, and the organi zation and duties of the troops, will be found noticed under their proper headings. The total military strength of the United Kingdom—including all the various kinds of force, also India and the colonies—comprised the following in 1879: Regulars (including India and the colonies) 190,600 Army reserve, 1st class 22.000 2d " 24,000 Militia (including permanent staff and militia reserve) 137,556 Yeomanry cavalry 14,614 Volunteers (including staff) 244,263 633,033