BRITISH POLITICS.

Mataura Ensign, 30 January 1912, Page 6

BRITISH POLITICS.

—_ MATTERS OF DEFENCE 7. LORD HALDANE SPEAKS. ItLJ-X.K, :*UiHI LONDON, Jan. 29. : .ord Haklanc (Minister for War), speaking at Gateshead, replying to Mr Bonar Law (Leader of the Unionists), said that his references to obsolete weapons were duo to a casual remark by Lord Roberts, who had had no opportunity of studying at close quarters. j Ti:e new Howitzer was the finest in the I w !-ld, and the field gun was the best I except the French. The Territorial field gun was slightly heavier, but for :,,,.,.{. p-.„.pp S p S . 1S g 00( { FS -tjjp Gorman ithe German regular field gun. He hoped that the new infantry rifle would prove the best in the world. The supply of horses bad been greatly increased. The War Office was introducing changes , in mechanical transport. LORD BERESFORD'S ACCUSATIONS LONDON, Jan. 29. Lord --::<<:: d(a keen or, ic ft the Ad'miralty and formerly First Lord) }y\ i issued a. p.ur.phlot to the rffe:t. tli.-t his jbook "Be! nival," publiratkNi of whi 1; I ve.s suMr-^-t 1 ..! }\r-i ;:u!ur.'n, sti'cn t-h-t jthe whole cf the Adivi-.a'tv polhv f-oe 11902 to 1911 w:-s o sories'of v r'.'.st-ke".. The pors.o.n.icl cf V.v, Navy 'avs s';a -v;d so ' th ■ ffir-ienc v of t-a'n-|JM r, :n l : ng .-:,.:! rry,-;-.. | in'C r'.-'r.i.'vos ■;• u )'o ovo'-s.-es d err'i!w.'••,■! ' ■wove <' ; ;:-"i-'i d. The -.■•:■• e- 1 !-. coediteti cf ir:"k> routes is a i:ati<-;in.l d0r- ;,,.,,. j,, ]<;.>•» f ; K ,.... N ,„„.. 0 ~;,.,y ~._.,, c-ii-'ro-s on -ffi'vign stations; now there v ",ro only twenty-three, despite the fact , that priva'eering, wiiicli was abolished . under the declaration of Paris, bar. been insidiously revived. As the r: radt of th« , Peace Conference of 1907 ses-.b-r-'o ' ■':: dp lis now open to sudden, secretly organised attacks conducted by merchant vesj sels. which a few hours previously wsvc i sheitc'ing in neutral harbors .as nou{combntents and a few hours later may repair in the sanio harbors aud tr>ke in i senl'e". h-ef'-e om''irkiug on fresh rd--1 ventures. It is of to: 1 : forgotten that jl. ..,,.,. ~„; „ .,..0 . | .e.;,,, ,!„p;,,, ( ] f n ,. thnir l utility upon comjileinentary units. He j svlds tr.nt t!::> war staff is essential to j proper orgaivs.ition of t'eet. I „ THE BELFAST MEETING. LONDON, Jan. 29. Mr Churchill (Home Secretary), replying to Lord Londonderry (Lord Lientenant), denies that ho selected Ulster Hall for his meeting as a challenge to Ulster men.