"Our achievement for what It has been, has been the result of our common' endeavours, and neither the sole Inspiration nor' exclusive results of any one of us. Particularly is. this so in regard to what has been called the democratization of the army.
"This year there may be as many as, $000,000: men under arms, and T have always thought of it as an deal that the army should be part of the nation (cheers), and not apart from the nation, that it should be a career in which every young man could enter with the knowledge: that hie could rise by his character and means, ability, regardless of his status or his
"Thad hoped that, in some way, we might thus gradually bind all members of the nation more closely in, mutual understanding, "At any rate T worked for that, and these who were associated with me worked with me. "It did not occur to mo to consider that we were making the army too, democratic to fight for Democracy (cheers). 1 hope it has een realized that the Secretary of State cannot divest himself of accountability to Parliament for all matters, both great and small, concerning the army, and that is. s0 whether the question be of provision of defences, of the adequacy oF safely. fof their construction, of the well-beling of the soldier, the conditions of his service, and the matter of his equipment.
British Army Tradition "One of the traditions, and indeed regulations, of the army for which Thave always had the greatest respect, is the requirement that any complaint or grievance can be directed to a superior officer, if desired, for transmission to the highest auth: rity, and this is in fact so if the superior ofoer is Secretary of State, have mentioned this because. 1 desire to clear those who have work-fed with me of any aspirations, Tam fFeluctant to believe that any' of the high emeers with whom T have been associated have been so unfaithful 10 the code which imbues the whole army as to make any representation irregularly, or if he had done, so it would have been countered. 'There hag eon, 50 far as T know, no con fiet on view or policy with any of my colleagues in the Government upon' any Point concerning my departure or otherwise, declined the post in the Board fof 'Trade because I could not feel fan assurance. that the consideration which persuaded the Prime Minister fo make the change would allow of my energetic discharge in the Hlonal interest of another' offe!—
Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.