BRITAIN'S SECOND LINE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 59, 8 March 1912, Page 5

BRITAIN'S SECOND LINE.

COST OF THE TX2L&ITOXIAU. HALT FAQ. IH BHOOTOTQ TESTS. LONDON. March 7. Speaking in the House of Commons, Mr. A. H. Lee, Conservative member for South Hampshire, stated that the Territorial force was 45,000 men and 1.800 officers short of its full strength. A total of 53 per cent only attended full training, and 53 per cent failed in the musketry course. The cest of Territorials was £ll per head, as compared with that of volunteers, at £7 per head. Colonel Seelj (Under-Secretary for Waxt said thp Government did not base its military strategy on an assumption of waning sea supremacy. He wu satisfied that the oversea garrison was adequate, though circumstances might arise necessitating a reinforcement. He was unable to withdraw the South African garrison at present

Continuing. Colonel Seely said il Great Britain was really open to attack from high ly-tfained Continental troops, it would be necessary to have full conscription, and not Lord Roberts' modified form of conscription. Our naval supremacy prevented the landing of great forces. Mr. A. Bonar Law (Unionist Leader) said be did not want the Boldiers to think the British rifle was worse than it was. It was admitted after its adoption that it was a great improvement on the old weapon.