BRITAIN'S LAND FORCES.

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 81, 5 April 1911, Page 5

BRITAIN'S LAND FORCES.

ARMY OF A MILLION URGED ST -ORD ROBERTS. LORD HAIDAHE FEARS THE COST. (By Cable.—Press Assoclatlon.- r -CopTrl_3_t.) (Received 8.55 a.m.), "" " LONDON, April 4. In the House of Lords to-day Earl Roberts, in proposing a motion, "That in view of altered strategical conditions on land and sea in Europe, this House views with grave and crowing eonjsern the inadequate naval and military arrangements," warmly lauded Herr yon Bethmann-Holl-weg's statesmanlike and manly speech in the Reichstag, especially his contention that an Empire's armed forces must correspond with that Empire's resources. Disasters similar to that which occurred in the South African war, if received at the hands of a stronger adversary, might have meant the downfall of the Empire Britain required a million adequately trained men in addition to the regulars in order to give the navy perfect freedom of action. He urged the appointment of a Royal Commission to inquire into the matter. Viscount Haldane stated that, apart from the impossibility of obtaining officers, Lord Roberts' army would cost £40.000.000 sterling thereby threatening national bankruptcy. They could not get prosperity in peace time if they crushed the people down with a weight of armaments only needed in war time.

If there came a bolt from the blue, Britain would have 580,000 men to receive invaders. Under compulsory service it would be impossible to keep up the overseas army, and thus they would imperil India.

The arbitration treaty with America, and Germany's assent to the exchange of naval information, indicated a world-wide desire to diminish the burden of armaments.

Lord Milncr considered Britain ought to have an expeditionary force which would not be a negligible quantity in the event of necessity in maintaining the balance of power in Europe. The debate was adjourned.