Military Defence.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13957, 17 July 1909, Page 3 (Supplement)

Military Defence.

OF THE EMPIRE. (" Times" Military Correspondent). The moral and material resources of the British Empire aro immense and unrivalled. Were they organised for war in a manner corresponding with their mass a lasting peace would be assured. But war is an affair of activity and movement, and the momentum of a body is the x>roduct of its mass and velocity. War comes suddenly in these days, and unprepared nations provike the aggression of their rivals. The modern nation in arms throws all its living forces into the war-furnace and almost suspends for the time all other forms of activity. For such a nation," in such a situation, the war must be short, sharp, and decisive. If it is not exhaustion" will discount all possible benefits accruing even from successful war.

A hostiile power possessing colonies and a merchant navy must always endeavour to act with the utmost vigour, promptitude, and decision, when engaged in hostilities with England. First, in order to take full advantage of the customary unpreparedness of the j British Empire throughout the world and of the exposure of, the British wealth on every Secondly, in order to prevent, as far as possible, tho paralvsis of the oversea trade of the said hostile Power and to bridge over the period so full of danger for its colonies. Thirdly, in order to forestall by rapid and stunning successes tho diplomatic action of the British Foreign Office. Unless the adequate resources of the British Empire are organised for war in such manner that they can be effectively employed within limits of time proportioned to the capacity for aggression of hostile forces the King's Dominions may always be t-iken at a disadvantage and great Issues may be decided before the weight of the whole can be brought to bear. . The whole strength of the Empire can onlv bo brought to bear in timely season hv a well-considered plan of cooperation for all its parts, . .Without practical and effective unity, which in its turn, can only be secured by the representation of self-goyernmg Dominions in the councils of the Empire the various fractions of the Imperial forces mnv either hold aloof from a war if the'enemv allows them to do so or mav drift slowly, separately, and disiointedlv into the field. It is against all probabilities that sm enemv will spare anv part of the Empiro because it is weak. ... ~-,,,, We have no desire to deal with the Dominions in any huckstering spirit, hut now that the Mother Country herself is hard bo*et, and no longer exercises against all enemies tho undisputed sway on every sea that she did but a few short years ago. the oversea dominions aro right to bestir themselves. Their prosperity and their existence am nt stake ns much as and emialitv e f rights implies emialitv of duties. The situation has chpnged, and defen-

sive arrangements must' change also. The time lias fully come when the oversea dominions must, in their own vital interests and-in those of the Empire, and in proportion to their relative population ■ and resources, take more effective part in the defence of the Empire "by sea and land. . . . It will he obvious to every one that in a scattered and oceanic Empire united by the highway- of the sea this highway must he safe, for if it is not neither goods nor troops can pass along it in security', and consequently neither commerce nor war can be conducted with success. « . . 'Our kinsmen of the oversea Dominions are not children. They can bear to hear the truth, and must bo told it. They look to us for guidance and ninst not look in vain. They are lacking in nothing but leading. The leadins must come from us, and we have hitherto offered little worth mention.

Our object is not so much to wage war as to prevent it. We cannot hope to succeed in either purpose without sacrifice nnd without effort. Unless the British people at Home and overseas prepare all their able-bodied manhood to fulfil the first duties of citizenship, these duties, laid upon all of them by law. cannot be successfully performed. We shall not only not prevent war. but we shall deliberately provoke it. for we shall not possess that able reserve of armed strength which can alone render our hostility dangerous, our friendship worth havincr, and our Empire secure. The active part of this Imperial Army of the future should b» mar'e available for the general service of the Empire in a preat emergens. Tf fesr of the possible but erc"edin"lv unlikelv aberration's of British states-manshin eomnels self-o-overll- -- Dominions to remain the ultima*" nidires of whether their forces should he employed ovtside their own territories or not, there is no reason why the lihhilitv should not be cVnrly exnrpccpd in tho'r laws. Place before the Englishman the duties of a man and *.*> w>ll n"t as a man. o Confide to hi v > l the 'functions of a mouse and he will act as a mouse.