BRITAIN'S DEFENCE SCHEME.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1333, 10 January 1912, Page 5

BRITAIN'S DEFENCE SCHEME.

FINEST IN THE WORLD. , SPEECH BY LORD HALDANE. Bj Teleeraun—Frcsn Aesoclatlon—Ooo.Trirhl (Rec. January 0, 11.15 p.m.) London, January !). Lord Haldane, Secretary (or War , , speaking at Edinburgh, said lie welcomed Lord Koborts's more generous attitude towards the territorials, but thought conscription was impossible. A scientific defenco scheme evolved by the greatest military and naval minds of tho country made invasion impossible, and the new naval staff was the final step in the finest defence scheme in the world.

London, January 8. The newspapers generally comment on Hie Admiralty new War Staff. NATIONAL SERVICE LEAGUE. ; ISSUES AN APPEAL. Ss Teleerapli—Press Ajspciatlon-Cowrlenl London, January 8. Tho National Service League has issued an appeal signed by Lord Roberts, who, while supporting the efforts to make tho Territorials efficient, does not conceal his Opinion that tho country would never bo able 'to rely on protection while it rests with voluntary enlistment. The force is still 30,000 short of the requisite strength. Viscount Haldanc (Secretary for War), in a speech at the annual distribution of prizes of tho 9th Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment, on November 25, said that there were people who talked in tones of despair Of tho Territorial Force. Let them not despair. Tho reality fc-J the Force and tho spirit in its ranks depended on the spirit which was latent In tho people of Euffland to-day, and it was because , he'believed that it was present to-day as strongly as ever that ho had fnith ■ in tho Territorial Force. Hβ did not believe in tempting p'tin to join the force. Ho did not believe in appealing to their patriotism, giving them such things as were necessary—good conditions, good headquarters, and everything required to promote efficiency. Ho had had great pleasure in being introduced,, before tho present ceremony, to the representatives of the great municipal and civic authorities of that district. It was to such bodies, patriotically inspired, thad they looked for tho success of their enterprise. "What is the Territorial Force?" he continued. "It is no oinbodimoilt oi a particular interest; it is nothing which depends upon a spirit of militarism. It is an institution which goes with (loop root to the patriotism which is innato in the people of this country and makes them desire to organise themselves for the defence of their homes and their families in case an hour of peril should Come. He appealed not only to citizens ami municipal authorities, but also to the Churches, because after all what finer school of training could there' be than the Territorial Force? Where could a man bettor learn a larger outlook of unselfishness, or self-control, and of patriotism, which taught a mnn that, life itself in its highest sense was to be given Up, if necessary,-in a great cnine?