THE ARMY AND THE NATION.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 168, 15 July 1908, Page 4

THE ARMY AND THE NATION.

A few days ago we published, on the 1 authority of the "Daily Telegraph," a disquieting rumour to the effect that an I attempt is to be made to cut down still further the effective strength of England's already small and wholly made I quate army. According to this report, ; several members of the Cabinet, more j especially Mr. Winston Churchill and Mr. Lloyd-George, advocate the reduction of the new army by another 30,000 men. Our cables new inform us that the "Times" has taken up this rumour and is raising a genuine "scare" about it The "Times" appears to believe that Mr. l.liildane, himself anxious to keep up the strength of his much-criticised " New Mode!" to the original estimate, is being coerced by his colleagues into making I concessions of which he does not approve, [but which they demand on the score of economy. It can hardly be asserted that jMr. Haldane's army is really sufficient i for all the purposes of foreign service ! and home defence, and if it is to be , still further reduced we fear that the I situation may become positively critical. IWe must not forget that the "Times" lis anxious to use any legitimate weapon I for party purposes to the discredit of the Liberal Government. But even after allowing for partisan prejudice, we are I inclined to think that the evidence points toward a conflict in the Cabinet between the exponents of a National Defence I policy, and the advocates of Social Reform. Mr Lloyd-George is certainly one of the ablest men in the Ministry, and the country has already had good cause to appreciate his services. But J he is certainly inspired by a very keen desire to economiso in the interests of schemes to promote industrial and social progress, and he does not appear to think that the demands of Army or Navy are relatively so important as the popular cry iv« Old Age Pensions. On this point Mr Asquith appears to have given way to the philanthropic or "humanist" policy of his colleagues, and there is at least a risk that the competition for Government aid to various progressive schemes may seriously reduce the necessary outlay on naval and military purposes. Even after we have discounted the notorious prejudices of the "Times," there still remains food for reflection in its warning; and, so far as the army is concerned, every such admonition simply serves to strengthen the case for compulsory military service as the only means of lightening the nation's financial burdens and providing for the security of the kingdom and the Empire.