Yet the close of the seventeenth century and the early decades of the eighteenth century witnessed the initiation of the modern military system in Europe. War for the first time touched hands with science under the guidance of such men as Parma and Turenne, Condé and Vauban. Nevertheless, when to have a highly trained force seemed vital, our Parliament would hardly pass yearly mutiny acts for the essentials of discipline, refused to supply proper quarters, and cut down the army. Later, there were constant efforts made to reduce the standing military forces, and Burke in 1780 could denounce our modest outlay as a "bleeding artery of profusion." Such, in that epoch, was the prevailing spirit, such the reluctance to organise, the distaste for science in warfare, and the aversion to militarism.
But with the closing years of the eighteenth century the new epoch in militarism opened, which is still in full vigour. Europe began to pay an ever closer attention to the science of war, and to adopt that system of conscription which was inagurated in 1798 by the Corps Législatif of France. To-day, of course, a considerable proportion of the combined budgets of Christendom is devoted to military and naval expenditure, and thus the angel of peace may be said to enjoy a comparatively modest pittance, doled out after Bellona has had enough.
There is no need to dwell upon the varying course of military administration which we on our
