COLONIAL DEFENCE.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 9821, 21 July 1900, Page 5

COLONIAL DEFENCE.

Discussion in the Lords.

United Press Association,

8y Electric Js'cgrafiJi — Copyright.

(Received July 21, 9.35 a.m.)

London, July 20

In the House of Lords, Lord Brassey called attention to and eulogised the resonrses of Australia for providing reserve forces for the Empire. He urged the Motherland to co-operate with the Commonwealth in raising an Imperial Yeomanry of five thousand in Australia, the expense to be borne by a joint Imperial ■ and Colonial fund.

Lord Lansdowne expressed con cuvrence and entire sympathy with the proposal, but advised that caution be shown lest increased numbers and increased efficiency in the colonial force? be bomght by the sacrifice of some of that spontaniety which had been shown in recent months. The Government were, he said, perfectly ready to discuss any scheme. It was desirable that the initiative should spring from the colonies themselves, but the Imperial Government would certainly give advice, asssistance, and expert co-operation. Lord Lansdowne added that Mr Goschen, First Xord of the Admiralty, entirely accepted the idea of a colonial naval reserve.