Let us assume that the Act authorising the new system is passed during a year, which may be called '00, and that it is to come into force on the 1st January of the year '01. The Act would probably exempt from its operations the men at the date of its passing already serving in any of the existing forces, including the territorial army, and the discussion on the Bill would, no doubt, have the effect of filling the territorial army up to the limit of its establishment, 315,000 men. On the 31st December '00 the available troops would therefore be:-- Regulars in the United Kingdom (present figure) 138,000 Special reserve 67,000 Army reserve (probably diminished from present strength) 120,000 Territorial force 315,000 -------- Total 640,000 ======== From the 1st January '01 recruiting on present conditions for all these forces would cease. The regular army of 138,000 would lose drafts to India and the Colonies 23,000 and would have lost during '00 by waste at 5 per cent 6,900 ------- 29,000 This would leave: ------- regular army under old conditions 108,100 and leave room for recruits under new conditions 91,900 ======= The total available for mobilisation during the year '01 would therefore be:-- Regulars 200,000 Paid reserves (the present first-class reserve. I assume an arbitrary figure below the actual one) 120,000 Special reserve (I assume a large waste and a loss from men whose time has expired) 50,000 Territorial force 315,000 Less 5 per cent 15,700 ------- 299,250 ------- 669,250 On the 1st January '02 the regular army would be:-- Old engagement 108,000 Less waste 5,400 Indian and Colonial reliefs 23,000 ------- 79,600 Recruits under new system 120,400 Mounted troops serving second year 20,000 -------- Total of regulars 220,000