LORD ROBERTS AT LEEDS.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14645, 21 April 1913, Page 7

LORD ROBERTS AT LEEDS.

AN ENTHUSIASTIC RECEPTION. UNIVERSAL SERVICE APPROVED. (Received April 19th. 5.0 p.m.) LONDON. April 19. Lord Roberts had an extraordinary reception at Leeds. A crowd of threo thousand people welcomed him at tho Town Hall, nnd thirty thousand peoplo gathered at Victoria .Square, where his speech was cinematographed on a huge screen.

Lord Roberts said his reception was the of a great revolution in public opinion. Seven months earlier it seemed beyond human power to rouse tho country as to tho torpor tho youth of tho nation were wading through.

Tho politicians forming tho Cabinet wero mostly blind. In Roman history tho word conscription was a badge of honour. Comparing tho proposed citizens' army with the Continental system, ho declared that it would bo unfair and unpatriotic to describe national servico as slavery or blood tax. It would be exclusively for homo defence and would never be required to deal with strikers. Kir Arthur Lawloy seconded a resolution in favour of universal service, which was carried with enthusiasm. Sir Arthur Lawley said that when Canada, New Zealand, and Australia Bought to strengthen their naval and military forces, it was not in a spirit of militarism or aggrandisement, but in order that when England's voice was raised in the Councils of Nations, she might be enabled to insist on peace.