IMPERIAL DEFENCE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 422, 3 February 1909, Page 7

IMPERIAL DEFENCE.

TERRITORIAL FORCE. i , PEACE TRAINING INADEQUATE. NEW PROPOSALS. (by telegraph—muss association—coptmgijt.) (Rec. February 2, 11.10 p.m.) London, February 2. Lord Roberts, tho Duko of Wellington, tho Earl of Meath, Viscount Milnor, Lord Curzon, and Lord Raglan have drafted some ira<portant proposals on behalf of the National Service League (a non-party organisation, presided over by Lord Roberts, the.object of which is to promote tho legislative adoption of compulsory naval and military training for national defence).

They propose that all youths between 18 and 21 years of age spend four to sis months in oamp, followed by a musketry course and a fortnight's camp annually for three years. They estimate that the Territorial Force will bo increased within four years to 400,000, with 150,000 recruits. Eventually there will bo a reserve of 600,000 men, tho cost of which will bo four millions per annum. '

Referring to the present Territorial Force, they state that it doeß not provide sufficient men, that the peace training-is hopelessly inadequate, and that the burden is unfair in its! inoidence: BRITAIN'S UNREADINESS. ANONYMOUS PLAYWRIGHT'S SUCCESS, LONDON IMPRESSED. London, February 1. A tremendous furoro has been caused by the production at Wyndham's Theatre of an anonymous play dealing with England's unpreparedness for war.

Tho play is entitled "An Englishman's Home." All the seats have been booked till tho end of Maroh.

The production of tho play is being' arranged for at another London theatre, and it will also be played by several touring companies, COMPULSORY TRAININGS. AND AN AUSTRALIAN LOCAL NAVY, Melbourne, February 2. ' The Federal Primo Minister, ' Mr, 'A. Fisher, during tbo course of a speech at a dinner given,by the Australian Natives' Association, said that people must be imbued with tho fact that they must practically rely on themselves for dofence, in co-operation with the Mother Country,

"Wo cannot," he said, "have efficient sea defence unless we havo a navy controlled by our own people in co-operation with Great Britain,"

■With regard to' military defence, Mr. 'Fishor said ho was entirely in favour of compulsory training. TERRITORIALS' TRAINING, ' According to recent stateraonts, something over 200.000 men havo been recruited out of the 312,000 contemplated for the Territorial Force, end reoruits are still coming to hand. Lord Roberts, in Ms speeoh. qn,..Novambor. 23,' declared that, for'home'defence, Britain needed a Territorial Force of one million men. Tho training .which tho Territorial Army undergoes is, for tho infantry, forty drills annually, of which twenty must.be performed before the annual training in camp, in the first year, followed by ten drills in subsequent years; an annual training in camp; and an annual course of musketry. The artillery are to do forty-five drills in tho first year, and twenty m each subsequent year, with an annual training m camp and one period of six days' praotico with a service brigade in four years. According to Mr. Haldano's 'estimate, the cost of the Territorial Force of 312,000 men as designed by him will bo J>3,514,000 per annum