DEFENCE.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13940, 28 June 1909, Page 5

DEFENCE.

ADDRESS BY VISCOUNT MILNER. BOLD POLICY ADVOCATED. Pit** Assooiation-By Telegraph-Copyright Received 5.5 p.m., June 27th. LONDON, June 26. Yi.si.nmii, Milnor,. in an address at the Compatriots' Club, referring to the great defence movement now stirring the Empire, remarked that tho Dominions desire and mean business ill this mutter, adding that tho occasion calls for a. bold constructive policy. Tho more courageous and comprehensive tho pro)>osals advanced by the Home Government, the. greater \v°uld then lie the chance of success. VISCOUNT ESHER'S ADDRESS. i FINDINGS OF AN EXPERT. Received 12.20 a.m., June 28th. LONDON, June 27. In an address at tho Press Conference, Viscount Esher said that the present conception of Empire Day was wholly different from that in the seventies. Difficulties began when they passed from belief to action. The first thing necessary was to move slowly and prudently towards an Imperial Navy. This meant that British officers and sailors all over the world were not only willing to fight but should be trained to fight side byside in tho same fleet. The delegates would bo. wise if they limited consideration to what was practicable within ten years, and thus clear the ground to enable statesmen to achieve practical measures. Tho dominions must, gain e&t pcrience themselves. Their true, guides were not the Admiralty, but their own. officers who learned tho lessons in their own fleet. The military problem could b6 summed up in three words—a gene- . ral staff, whereby the personnel and material for war was standardised throughout the Empire. Defence meant not only tho Navy and Army, but organisation of all tho resources, financial and otherwise, for the protection of the people. Ho looked hopefully forward to the timo when the Committee on Imperial Defence would be strengthened by the addition overseas representatives. LORD BERESFORD'S VIEW. THE DOMINANT NOTE. Received 1.5 a.m., Juno 28th". LONDON, Juno 27. In an address at the Press Conference, Lord Charles Beresford said that the dominant noto of all statesmen in addressing tho Conference had been ono of grave anxiety, and this was not expressed without reason. He added: " In my opinion tho reason is that they know we are not prepared. The colonial offers to build 'Dreadnoughts were tho severest condemnation possible of Britain's-Imperial defence policy. The overseas nations recognised, what Britain ought to have recognised earlier, that Britain had arrived at a time when it was impossible ■ to maintain the. two-power standard without- the overseas helping her." TRAINING GROUNDS. Per Press Association. " WELLINGTON, June 26. Military people and others interested are advocating the establishment of permanent training grounds for mounted infantry. ' - Major Brandon, at a volunteer smoke concert last night, made »■ strong appeal for the separation, of - military control of defence forces from political influence. v