BRITAIN'S PERIL.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 26, 31 January 1912, Page 11

BRITAIN'S PERIL.

WARNING BY LORD ROBERTS. LORD HALDANE'S EEPLY. (From Our Own Corresponflent.) LONDON. 22nd December. „ The real stat» of the British Arm) and its unpreparedjiess for war are the subjects for a strong indictment by Lord .Roberts in "the press ' this week. He solemnly warns his fellow countrymen of the position- ill which they stand. Thus :—"lt: — "It is idle to criticise a Minister or Ministers. So long as a nation itself is supinely indifferent to the real condition of its army and its navy, there (Will be found politicians to assure that nation that it may persist in its apathy unpunished, and that in the day of battle 'all will be* well!' It is a maxim of- history. lam not blind to tho extremely complex problems which confront this nation-^problems arising from the necessity of social reform, problems arising from gew situations in Imperial politics, problems arising from the impprativ© need of a readjustment of the- navy and' the army. There are enough signs that, in 1911 as in 1793, the ' action of foreign nations will not permit our interior politics to develop according, to. the law of logic or the wishes of our statesmen. By a fortunate juncture within these ±'pw weeks, England, without the bloody test of war, has had the opportunity of discovering," as in a- flash, the 1 truth about her Navy and Army, and I-will attempt to lay before the nation some of the results of that supine indifference and of the blind acceptance of the reiterated asBurances that an army raised' on Lord Haldane's principle is enough to ensure, the safety of these islands. OUR' PRESENT POSITION. Lord Roberts'a indictment rona :—: — This indifference has encouraged a general slackness throughout •' the sei> vice. • ■ ' ■ In many most important respects the regular army is noVfTtted 'for war. Our rifle 'is inferior^ £o that of Germany and France. Even with the new bullet our men will be at a disadvantage. The equipment of 'onr artillery is scarcely more satisfactory. , Our fuse and fuse-setters are not* up to date, our eights are not up to date; with the result that our gun is not an automatic firing gun. ' - Again, in aviation we are behind other nations. Lord Roberts proceeds :—": — " Lord Haldane and his associates assure 'us suavely that if we wait we shall profit by the success or | failure of others, and eventually obtain I information as to the best design for a 1 dirigible or an aeroplane. We may wait, but war will not wait. The idea is absurd ; it is of a piece with, that other ' unaccountable idea ' of the Secretary of ' State for War — that it will be time enough to begin serious training when war has been declared !" THE TERRITORIAL FORCE. Lord Roberts says he finds it difficult to write temperately on the Territorial Fores : — "Extravagant eulogies have, I j am aware, been lavished upon the various units of the Territorial Force; but these praises are, ' in the f ac6 of • this , great nation's peril, discreditable alike t6 the "politicians and soldiers who ut» ter them. Officers and men of the Territorial Force know how meaningless is such praise. They know very well what a sham and make-belief are those dis- ' plays of pseudo-efficiency with which the British public is from time to time regaled. Coming to the Navy he asks :— "lf fch© | Navy were, as it might be for good reasons, temporarily lemoved, upon what ■ should we 'be relying for the defence of Great Britain? These islands might at any moment be exposed to a descent of , 70,000 of the best troops in the world. ' And what resistance could we ©ffer? Absolutely none; for, with every encoura gement from both parties, and with four years of the most dexterous and unwearied manipulation " of his resources, Lord Haldane can only offer the nation some 860,000 patriotic men, without skilled officers, training, or cohesion, and in consequence without confidence in themselves — and for whose support the British public ate heavily taxed I | "No faith can be placed in arbitration or Hague Conferences. Let us cease to blind ourselves by vain sophistries to the dangers which beset us. Let us face the reality. Britishers are not fools. Let them once be taught to understand the changes' that are going ■on in the world, and that, however much we may I desire peace, it is not possible for us to ''be exempt froiri the effect* which those changes must inevitably bring about, I and they will soon realise that it is 1 necessary' to have a reliable National Army." THE OFFICIAL REPLY. Lord Haldane, speaking at Bradford, replied to this letter. Lord Robert* had asked what would happen if the Navy were away from the North Sea at the time of an attack. Lord Haldane pointed out that we were "done" if the control of the sea passed out of our hands, for all the foreigner would have to do would' be to cut off our food supplies. Lord Roberts had been invited to produce his ' case before the Defence Committee, and he had dono so. Great naval commanders and great soldiers had stated their respective cases, and the military .men had "been told by the sea r dogs ,th.at they were amateur* on matters connected wifch the Navy. Even if the Fleet happened to be away for & short tune whon tho invader came our battleships could be back in time to cut off his line of communication, and what was the value of forces cut off from then* base? Lord Roberts's scheme fell between* two stools. It did nob give the equivalent of regular soldiers, nor did it provide anything equal to the value of the Territorials. /He would rathpr pay more for increasing th© Navy than for anyscheme of increasing the number of half- , trained soldiers. Had we compulsory service ,wo would not get as fine a fight- - ing ' force as now, nor would numbers compensate for loss of quality. Tne real root of the matter was that we are an island nation ; our first defence was the Navy, our second the Ter- [ ritoriala. Naval men got very cross when j Lord Roberts was mentioned to them, so ! he" did not mention him bfec&use he did ' not like friction between' the Arhiy and j Navy.