BRITAIN'S DEFENCES.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 25 November 1908, Page 2

BRITAIN'S DEFENCES.

LORD ROBERTS ON THE ARMY. THE PREPAREDNESS OF GERMANY. T SPEECH IN THE HOUSE OF J LORDS. LONDON, Tuesday. In the House of Lords, Earl Roberts, in a mighty speech, moved: "That the defence of the country necessitates the Government's immediate attention to the provision of an army so strong and efficient that the most formidable foreign nation would hesitate to attempt a landing, ana that it is also desirable in view of the altered strategic conditions in the North Sea, that the Govornment should, following. Mr Balfour's precedent of 1905, making a statement on tho invasion problem, and definitely state the conclusions reached as a result of the recent inquiry by the Committee on Imperial Defence." Earl Roberts dsclaimed the slightest hostility in Britain to Germany. Nevertheless, he emphasised that his and Lord Lovat's inquiries convinced them that there were available at all tmes in German ports ships sufficient to convey 200,000 soldiers. The latter could be collected without fuss on mobilisation, and 100,000 could be transported in the same manner of ships, which Mr Balfour informed them in 1905 would be needed for hall that force. The debarkation would occupy far less time than Mr Balfour thought necessary for a much smaller force. Mr Balfour's optimism in stating that a serious invasion was not a possibility we need discuss had a most unfortunate effect, because the War Office, which up to 1905, was preparing a defence army equal to any emergency then contemplated, had immediately stopped all schemes for. resisting invasion, and decided that it was only necessary to provide against complete raids. Then the public accepted the statement with delght. It was just what they wanted to hear, but it was possible that our fleets would be misled and evaded, and an army landed, receiving the help of 80,000 Germans now here in various capacities, and all trained soldiers. Events in the Near East proved that nothing can save a country unable to protect itself. No alliances and no treaties could avail. Every nation must depend on itself. "We need a territorial force of one million," he concluded. Lords Lovat and Milner supported tho motion, while LoTd Cromer commented upon Europe's recent electric shocks. He hoped the statement? on the invasion problem would be de ferred. The Earl of Crewe, Sec. of State for the Colonies, in resisting the resolution, hoped .the discussion would not lead to grave misunderstanding abroad. -He_ admitted that tho coun try ought to be in a position to meet an invasion, however remote the possibility, adding that the General Staff of the Army had prepared a scheme making it possible to throw the largest practicable force to any given point at any time it was needed. Lord Lansdowne said neither' Mr Balfonr nor the Defence Committee elaimed finality for the position of 1905, and there had been great changes since then". He asked for some general statement including information relating to the -force to repel invasiofii The last portion of the resolution was withdrawn, and the first part