EUROPE'S WAR CLOUD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15237, 26 February 1913, Page 7

EUROPE'S WAR CLOUD.

CAN BRITAIN BE INVADED? COMPREHENSIVE INQUIRY. TWO EXPERTS APPOINTED. NAVAL AND MILITARY ASPECTS. { NORTH SEA DEFENCE. By Telegraph.—Press Association.—Copyright (Received February 25. 11.50 p.m.) . London, February 25. The Prime Minister (Mr. Asquith), who presided at a meeting of the Defence Committee yesterday, made an important announcement in regard to the question of the preparedness of Britain against an invasion. Mr. Asquith stated that RearAdmiral Prince Louis of Battenbcrg and General Sir John French had been appointed as naval and military experts respectively to begin a comprehensive inquiry in regard to the problem.

The points to be investigated relate chiefly to the North Sea and the potentialities of aircraft. •

WARSHIPS IN THE AIR. GERMAN VISITOR TO BRITAIN. VOYAGES BY NIGHT. EQUIPPED WITH MACHINE GUNS.

London, February 24. There is little doubt that the mysterious airship with a powerful searchlight, which was seen in the neighbourhood of Selby, in Yorkshire, and East Warwickshire last night, came from Germany.

A message from Berlin states that several Zeppelin airships have been making prolonged night trips.

Some of the ships carry machine guns. They are fitted with bulletproof shields and wireless telegraphy equipment, and each carries a ton of explosives. Of the British Army aeroplanes which are taking part in the flight from Aldershot to Montrose, a distance of about 380 miles, several have only reached Newcastle, some 250 l.ules from the starting point.

REPORTS RIDICULED. GERMAN PRESS COMMENT. (Received February 25, 10.40 p.m.) Berlin, February 26. The German -newspapers ridicule the reports as to the nocturnal visit of an,airship to England. It would be impossible, the papers say, for the most powerful Zeppelin to secretly visit England. '