EMPIRE DEFENCE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVIII, Issue XLVIII, 11 February 1913, Page 6

EMPIRE DEFENCE

DECLINE IN BRITISH TERRITORIALS CHEAT NATIONAL SCHEME HINTED AT. (Press Association.—Copyright.) (Ree. Feb. 11. 11.5 a.m.) LONDON, Feb. 10. In the House of Lords, Lord Middleton drew attention to the decline in the Territorials. Lord Hersehel replies that the Government had. requested the Committee of Defence to reconsider the safety of •the country in the event of an expeditionary force going abroad in view of new military factors since Mr Asquith's statement on July 29th, 1909. The Government opposed compulsory service, but it might be desirable to institute compulsory physical training in connection with continuation schools. It might be that the use of arms and simple military formations would add to selfrespect, and lay the foundations whereon a great scheme of national defence would be based if unforseen dangers menaced, the country .

In the House of Commons on July 29, 1909, on the report of the Imperial Defence Committee, Mr Asquith, Premier, declared that the business of the Admiralty was to maintain British naval supremacy at such a point that we could not lose command of the sea. (Cheers.) Mr Asquith continued to say:—"As against anv reasonable possible combination we must holdi the sea an,d» make invasion an impracticable event. As to the Home army, it real function was opposition. The business of the War Office was to have in all circumstances a properly organised and equipped force capable of dealing effectually with a possible invasion by a force of 70,000. If both these naval and military conditions were satisfied itwas the opinion of the Defence Committee that the country was safe from invasion."