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Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 5272, 16 July 1888, Page 2

Some of our readers must have been astonished on Saturday when they read in our cablegrams that "England's only General stated in the House of Lords that it would be tho easiest thing possible for France to collect 100,000 men with 300 guns in one night, ship tho force at any of her ports, and transfer the troops to England with tho object of capturjngX>ondon. Lord Wolseley's experience in shipping and landing troops should have taught him to think before speakicg. It would be absolutely impossible to ship 100,000 men in one night with guns and ammunition, without immense preparations which would attract universal attention. To gather so large a forett at any one spot in the spaco of twelve hours would necessitate the derangement of the railway services, and tho mustering of a fleet of steamers to convey an army across the channel would so aroueo suspicion that the invading troops would, on reaching England, find it more dilticult to laud than if thuy had como over for v pic-nic. Aguiu, no nation in the world would bo so mad as to make such an oxpedition, for though, if successful in reaching London, it could do incalculable mischief, not one of the invaders could hope to survive tho raid. So many almost impossible things have to be supposed before an unopposed invasion of England could bo effected. We have to suppose that the English tleet has betni destroyed ; that the English Channel is deserted of vcpsels of all kinds; that no communication has beeu beld with the continent for weeks so that France could act secretly; that tho 2oaet-guard nervieo was asleep, and no news could bo sent to head-quarters of tho landing ; we have to suppose tho wcutlierto ue so calm that French soldiers would not lie seu-niek; and finally {,h*t tho English population would receive tho invaders with speii arms of welcome. No wonder that Lord Wolseley's statements wero ridiculed ; jut more should bo done, his services should jo dispunsud with. Wo suppose it is tho irst time in the history of tbo House of Lords that an English General has risen rum his seat and said that England could » beaten by Franco !