PROBLEMS OF DEFENCE

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 300, 16 December 1912, Page 5

PROBLEMS OF DEFENCE

THE COMPULSORY SYSTEM. UNIONISTS IN DOUBT. LORD ROBERTS'' CAMPAIGN. <By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright* (Received lO.ii ajn.) LONDON, December 15. Mr. Austen Chamberlain, speaking at Dumfries, said that he had net seen his way clear to advocate compulsory training because he was not sure that it would meet Britain's peculiar problem which must be faced by all parties. Lord Roberts delivered another speech last night imploring the nation to adopt compulsory service. He has published his speeches in cheap form. Major-G'meral Bethune, Directing General of the Territorials, declares that the people are ignorant of what a good thing they have in the Territorials. Lord Roberts baa issued a book, which is being sold for 6d., reiterating his advocacy of compulsory military service. The "Times," in a leader commenting upon it, says: "We all know now, whot--ever some of us may say, that voluntary en-l-ietment for the army has broken down. We know that the regular army 18 net large enough and that the territorial force is a sham. We know, in fact, ibbat compulsory service for a serious period m-ud-t be faced without delay. The people must be tokl how much ingoing -to be asked of them, for what purpose, and at what cost. The call will be the harder to make the longer at is delayed. It is nearly a century since the people were faced with a na/tional danger in any serious form. Is democracy capable of preserving its great heritage from dies-ipaitikra ? We most firmly be lieve that British democracy is."