BRITAIN'S DEFENCES.

Poverty Bay Herald, 17 April 1906, Page 4

BRITAIN'S DEFENCES.

NEW GOVERNMENT'S POLICY. (Per 6.5. Sierra at Auckland.) - SAN FRANCISCO, March 21. A despatch froni London, March Bth, says : In introducing the Army estimates, amounting to nearly £50,000,000, in the House of Commons to-day, War Secretary Ha Idane announced that the Liberals did not desire to destroy the 'Army, but required greater efficiency at less expenditure. The Government accepted what he dominated the "blue-water principle," namely, that the Navy at its present strength was capable of defending Britain from invasion, and though a strong. Navy was a costly thing, it was useful, as it made it possible lo cut off much of what would otherwise be necessary Army expenditure. In pursuance "of this policy of dependency on the Navy it was decided ammunition stores constructed for the defence of London were unnecessary, and would at once bo rooted up. Some three hundred guns mounted 'at various points for the defence of the uoust) would be swept away. The troops at Wei-hiii-wei, China, would be- withdrawn, and some colonial garrisons would be reduced. These changes di'd not involve an enormous sum, but would mark the beginning. The British Army required for oversea purposes must be of high, quality, 'not to be obtained by conscription, and 6bould be (strictly limited in dimensions i The size of the Army depended chiefly j on policy, and Mr Haldaiie wished the j nations would consider together whether la. reduction could not be made in th© armament" burden, which was pressing on civilised nations. The War Minister said he thought the North-West frontier of China was no longer endangered, and later he pointed out Great Britain was not alone in spending enormous sums for the Army. He instanced Germany and j France, and added : The United States i is a very efficient nation, and confines it- ! self of an Army of 60,000: men ; neverihe. 1 less, that Army costs close to £23,000,---000. "Great Britain," he added, "will never be able tp- reduce her striking force , without providing some power of expansion behind it at home. AH training must be voluntary. Anything like conscription would defeat its objects."