ENGLAND'S DANGER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9056, 17 May 1888, Page 5

ENGLAND'S DANGER.

THE STATE OF THE NATIONAL DEFENCES. PUBLIC ALARM. FEARS OF A RUSSO-FRENCH ATTACK. MEETING OF LONDON MERCHANTS. LORD WOLSELEY AND THE PREMIER. (press association.] London, May 14. Lieut.-Cenkral Sir Andrew Clarke, C.8., formerly Inspector-General of fortifications, deprecates the panic which has arisen over the defence system. He maintains that the defences are now stronger than they have been for years. Sir Andrew warmly eulogised the efforts of the colonies to secure the defence of the Empire, and urges the completion of the defence of all coaling stations which are already well in hand, and insists that they should be immediately garrisoned and kept in readiness for war. Sir Charles Dilke, in a Magazine article, contends that the real danger to be feared is that Russia and France may attack England, and states that both Powers are building an enormous number of fast cruisers, which, should they in the event of war, operate against England, would cripple the trade of the country. Replying to Mr. Labouchere, in the House or Commons, Lord Charles Beresford said everyone in the Soudan felt grateful to Australia for assistance rendered to the Government by the New South Wales Soudan Contingent, and that the necessary guns for the defence of coaling stations would be completed in three years. In fuiure the Government intended to order guns at the same time that orders were given for ships. The House of Commons has agreed to the vote of £850,000 placed on the navy estimates for the auxiliary squadron. The ships are to be completed by March, 1889. London, May 15. A meeting of merchants and bankers has been held to consider the national defences. Lord Chas. Beresford, Sir George Elliott, Captain Colomb, and Messrs. W. H. Hornby and Thomas Mayne (M.P.'s), were amongst those present. Several speakers expressed pleasure at the country awakening to the fact of the inadequacy of the fleet, and said invasion at the present time would result in the lass of the whole Empire. In the House of Lords, Lord Wolseley complained that the attack made upon him by the Marquis of Salisbury was unwarranted, and he disowned any connection with the article which had appeared in the Daily Telegraph. Referring to his after-dinner speech, he denied that he had attacked the Government, and explained that he could not have charged the Government with negligence, as they had done much to improve the defences of the country. He reiterated that the navy and army were weak, and that the defences both at Home and abroad were defective and unsatisfactory. The equipments and organisation were also bad. The Marquis of Salisbury, accepting Lord Wolseley's disavowal, said that the protest he had entered was justified, and he hoped that in future charges of such a nature would be made in Parliament. Later. The new war vessels to be constructed will be an improvement on the Archer's type, and will be longer, heavier, faster, and better armed than the colonial conference expected. The Standai-d defends Lord Wolseley,, and applauds him for his frank, plain statements, which have left a profound and wholesome impression on the country. The Daily Telegraph urges that no outlay should be grudged to place the city of London and the coast line in a thorough state of defence to ensure the safety of the Kingdom.