BRITISH SECURITY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1687, 1 March 1913, Page 2

BRITISH SECURITY.

PLEA FOB NON-PARTY TREATMENT,

Lord Roberts has written, the folloTring letter to the "Spectator":— Sir,'-I have followed the conespondenoo prompted by your excellent article on "National Service by Consent" with keen interest. . Thoso of us who are devoting ourselves to tlio cause of national service fully reuliso' that if this vital question were to be dragged into the cockpit of jwtrty polities the reorganisation of our military forces would become an almost hopeless task. The interesting letters from Liberals which you have published confirm the welcome evidence which reaches me every day that an increasing number of our fellow-countrymen of all parties are being touched by our unpreparedness for the contingencies which oonfront us in world politics. And with the awakening of public opinion will, I feel confident, come practical 6teps to give cffect to Pitt's' watchword "Secuiity." I know my countrymen _ well enough to be certain that their, political genius and common senso will rise equal to the task of adapting existing institutions to altered circumstances. I should be the last to underrate the difficulties of tlio problem to the solution of which 1 have felt it to be my duty to devote myself, but I am convinced that when the country has accepted, perhaps insisted upon, the principle of national service the vital details will automatically bo adjusted suit our needs and national convenience.

Some of your correspondents have put forward valuable criticism of the inentoble details. I am sure, however, that they will realiso the Impossibility of dealinn at lennth with their criticisms in the columns of (he "Spectator." I would in the circumstances ask them to-apply to the secretary of the National Service League, 72 Victoria Street, London, S.W., who will be pi wiped to, supply them with our propaganda literature. Perhaps I may aslc your space to point out to your Liberal readers the essentially democratic nature of the proposals of the Nntion.nl Service Leapnie. The Dominions which ar(?uo the subject on first principles, free from all the_ traditional prejudices which beset the historic political parties in Great Britain, have come to the conclusion that the rin-ht to vote involves the oblipration to defend one's country. Surely that is a sober and responsible system. It _is_ often said that universal military training would foster what is called militarism—in other words, an aeirressive spirit. I cannot imagine anything further from tho truth or further from experience. It is easy for those who have no personal responsibility to urfje others into an unnecessary war, but it would be a very different matter to cast a vote for war if it were known that there was scarcely a family in the land which would not be liable to send out a member to stand his chance in the wenr and tear and risks of a campaign. In the present circumstances a man who does his duty is at a disadvantage in -the strnsglo for commercial success, as aprainst one who does not, and an employer who patriotically sfts his employees free to do their annual trainIns,' in the Territorial Force is at a disadvantage ns airainst his less patriotic rival. Surely I am justified in sayini; that this in an undemocratic and unbusinesslike system.

The system advorvited by tlio National Service League would lay tho obligation npnn rich ami t>oot\ lvitrb and low, alike, and is, I bsl'flvo, tlio onlv system which can realise that cmiiiontty healthy and prae.H< , nl ideal, a "nation in arms."—l am, Sir, ctc., ROBERTS, P.M. Englemere, Ascot.

On Wednesday next, at 10.30 on tlio premises No. 139, Adelaide l?oad, Newtown, Thompson Bros., Ltd., will sell by public auction the wholo of the assigned stock of plumbers' and gnsfitters' stock-in-trade in Hie estate of IT. W. T),ivies and Co. The storlc is valued (it .£BOO, a full list of which may lie had from the auctioneers. At 1 o'clock the same day several patent rights will lie submitted. All goods will bo on view the afternoon prior to sale.