DEFENCE OF ENGLAND.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1707, 26 March 1913, Page 3

DEFENCE OF ENGLAND.

—— .TERRITORIAL BREAKDOWN. ADMISSIONS BY THE CABINET, Important' admissions respecting the failure of the Territorial Force were made by the Government on February 10 in the course of debate in the House of Lords, confirming the contentions of Lord 'Eoberts in the campaign which lie has been undertaking lor the enlightenment of the country. The Government adni'tted (savs the "Daily' Mail"):- ' "■ That they are not satisfied with the Territorials, having failed to gain that at which they aimed. That unless recruiting still goes on. improving there must- be a further drop in the numbers of the Territorial Force this year. - . ... That the deficiencies in life Territorial ranks must be made up, and that they propose to utilise the National Reserve to fill the ranks. ' That the -time'has arrived when the "special consideration" of the defence of Britain's shores must be continued by the Committee of Imperial Defence under the chairmanship of Mr. Asquith. That they are hoping for "voluntary service from every man." , Command of the Sea. Lord Herschell, on behalf of the War Office, recalled the statement of the Prime Minister in the llouso of Commons on July 29, 1909, when Mr. Asquith said that so long'as naval supremacy is adequately assured, invasion-.'on a largo scale'is impracticable, and that if we ' were to lose the command'of the sea, tl'en, whatever the strength of our military forces, the subjection of-the country to the enemy would bo inevitable. "No one," the Premier said, "will undertake the task of invasion with a smaller force than something like '70,000 men. Xdo not believe 70,000 men would ever get through at all, but you must have in these matters an ample margin of safety." This is ijtjll the opinion (said Ixird Herschell) of liis Majesty's Government, but there are many new factors to consider. 1 In view of all these factors, the-Prime .Minister (Jecided aorae few weeks ago that the time had again arrived when the special consideration of these questions should be continued by the Committee of. Imperial Defence under ' his chairmanship. At the same time, while the Govern.ment have every hope of an improvement in the condition of'the-.Territorial Force, I- can say perfectly frankly that they [ire not satisfied, becaso they have not got that at which they aimed. They aimed at an establishment of 313,000; they have, only got 263,000. There has' grown up in -the last few years a most remarkable movement., I' allude to the. National Reserve, which mimbsrs. at present 190,000 officers, and ineii. The Government, thus having before, them on iho one hand a deficiency in the Territorial Force, which is below the figure at which they aimed, and on. the 'Other hand the new movement to which I have alluded, considered whether - tho_ one could not bo utilised to fill up the', gaps in. the other. Accordingly a new scheme wdS framed "for this-purpose. ( The plan 'which has br-en. approved by his Majesty's Government is briefly ■ as follows j' No money is to be paid to the men themselves in time of peace, but in the ease of each man who indicates his intention "of his services at the disposal of his Majesty for home defence in a time of grave national emergency a sum of ss. will be paid to the county associations, and in ill? case-of..those who take a more extended obligation for services in v ni)y, part of the world,. under similar conditions, a sum of 10s. j>cr man will bo paid -to. the county associations, in encli caso in addition to the.ls. already paid.

Lord x Roberts's Appeal Lord Roberts, .who. rose to reply, ivns greeted with choors. lie applauded the patriotism of tho-men who had como'forward- to; join the -Territorials, "but," .ho said, ''to ask me .as a soldierrto.say that tiioy are' fit for war is nonsense. I "could not "do it."However,- so long aa the Government persisted in assuring- peopli that all was well the efforts of 'those who were trying to imprttve.ths present state .of altairs would be to a extent thrown away, ho had:to confess. lor five years all means except compulsion had been tried to fiil the ranks ol the Territorial force. Some of them had been unworthy of a great nation. "1 myself within the last few weeks," he added, "have had-an invitation to join a dancing, club in -the metropolis, the avowed object of which was to /induce young fellows to take up commissions."... . • - • "I appeal to both parties to cast aside all considerations, except patriotism, and by,, united notion secure tho safety of this country and of : this Empire." The House rose shortly after midnight. Details of the new scheme for. the National Reserve were given by Colonel Seely, Secretary of State. for War, in a speech, at the opening of the new headquarters and rifle range of the Hammersmith Battalion. .. • He said tho number of men eligible for the' National 'lleserve . was close upon 2,000,000. They were not putting a-pistol at the head of any man, saying: "You must do . this," or "You must not <lo that." ' It was a national service for'exservice men or volunteers anxious in times of peril to'serve the country. Tliey would find in what unit and in what way a man could best serve. It would not be a legal, but an-honourable, obligation. When tho classification was completed they would undertake that, should the day come,-uniforms, arms, and equipment should be provided for every man willing to' Serve.'