Sir Charles DilKe on British' Defences.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 6407, 7 January 1888, Page 2

Sir Charles DilKe on British' Defences.

London, October 29— 5}ir Charles Dilke, ' who will return to London next Wednesday, sends an advance proof of his artiol* on tbe British Army. He writes under the signature of "Author of "Greater Bri- ' tain.'" The paper is of an alarmist oharaoter. He recommendß spending . £5,000,000 for military purposes, and declares that England's position, in India relative to Russia grows weaker every. y«»r, He maintains England has not ona efficient army corps. He mercilessly ; pntioises Stanhope for reduction of hone and artillery, and toys that the British . " fleet, considering the work it his to do, is . weaker than that of France. He suggests ' that the taking of London in oase of *n invasion would be certain, and would orippla England's power. The axpendi- > ' ture of five million pounds on its forti« fixations would be a splendid insurance. He calls on the people who trust to national good fortune to save the oountry from invasion and "The Inokandplaok school " among diplomatic circlet. Dilke. ' drolares that after tbe rejection of the ; Anglo-Turkish Convention in Egypt, the*' - Germans pressed England to take a more active part in Eastern matters. Salisbury, refused and fell baok to a policy of non- " intervention. Dilke's conclusions are that - • Great Britain has no system ot military defence whatever, and is daily getting weaker, as compared with other European' Powers ; that we are exposed to the. low of coaling stations and the destruction of ' the navy, consequently of commerce, and 1 ' the bombatdment of commaraa ports and arsenals, and that we have no power to mobilize. Dilke will have to prove the propositions. He admits that nnlen ho; proves them he will be open to grave charges.