THE INVASION OF ENGLAND.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9513, 10 April 1909, Page 1

THE INVASION OF ENGLAND.

("Times of India.")

We have already referred to the discussion renewed by Lord Roberts and stated our opinion that from a political point of view it is better left alone, but from the military point of view there can be no question of its urgency. The views of statesmen cannot be accepted in this respect, nor can those of the " blue-water " school, who insist that the navy is fully adequate to repel any attempt of this nature, it is not very long since Mr Balfour, then Prime Minister, enunciated as an axiom the inviolability of English shores. But in war it is the unexpected which always happens ; nothing is impossible to ; genius and perseverance; and, as a German writer expressed himself in treat-; ing of this subject: "If we remember all that has been declared impossible ijjivthe history of the world by contemporaries, and yet was achieved by the power of genius, who can say that a landing of his army in England would have been an impossibility for Napoleon. Hannibal's great plan of crossing the Alps and attacking Rome in Italy, and conquering it there, would perhaps; be considered impossible now, if it had remained a plan only." It may bo conceded that it is exceedingly im-^ probable that any opposing forces could,, with our present naval supremacy, break through the line of British ships. But it is possible to conceive of a combination of circumstances which would enable a large army ta' effect a landing on British shores. There is, sufficient chance in war without leaving to fortuitous circumstances anything thai* can ba provided for in time of peace, and Lord does not overstate the, situation

million trained men are necessary for the absolute security of Great^ Britain. There can be. no doubt that Napoleon, : who at least was never incorrect in his theoretical deductions, whatever mistakes be may have made in wwasr s considered the invasion of England a possible though a difficult task. And the fact that he eventually directed against Austria the army assembled for the invasion of England in no way affects the main point. No one knew better than Napoleon 'the uselessness of an untrained rabble. For, as he said, 50,000 untrained men in the open can bo put to flight by 3000 cavalry. The thing has been proved in history again and again. There is no use in every man being hastily armed without previous training in tactical manoeuvre and massed and orderly movements, when the enemy is already at our gates. It is remarkable what can be effected by even a small invading force. Thus, in the French raid in 1798, a party of 1000 men landed in Ireland without opposition, after sixteen days at sea, unobserved by the British Navy. On four occasions they" ■•; defeated British troops, they routed a force of militia at least double their strength, captured eleven guns, and occupied the attention of the whole garrison of Ireland to the number of 100,000 men, and they compelled the Lord-Lieu-tenant to send an urgent requisition to London for reinforcements. We do not (Suggest that this could be done now by 1000 men, but it shows, the possibilities of war. The duty of the British people./! iis clear. If the British Empire is not to share, the fate of Home, the nation must train itself for war, and re- j . cognise that it owes its first duty to Its country. Conscription in the "Continental acceptation of the term, may hot be necessary; at any rate, uniyertil training may come first to prepare jfche. way for farther measures if univerf fiat Service should prove necessary. ' If we glance back over the history of <*»«• country, it is almost sufficient to ..make -us despair of ever seeing »ccompHshed measures that have been deemed accessary to security from invasion "by every great soldier from Wellington to Lord Roberts. The same arguments V Have been urged in vain for a hundred years. But in this respect the British nation remains unchanged since the historian Alison wrote of them : " Though • naturally brave, and always fond of military renawnyrthey are the reverse of warlike in their - ordinary habits. Naval supremacy had long since made them trust to their wooden walls for defence, arid commercial opulence opened more attractive pursuits than the barren heritage of the sword. In peace they invariably relax the sinews of war; no amount of experience can persuade them to take any antecedent measures either to avert disaster* or e»sure *uccessj they constantly expect that, without the least previous preparation, and with greatly inferior , jrambers, their armies, .newly raised aud inexperienced, are ,to vanquish their enemies in every encounter." Alas! the freeborn Briton still claims th* inalienable right not to lift a linger in defence of his native land.