A CITIZEN ARMY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1729, 21 April 1913, Page 7

A CITIZEN ARMY.

LORD ROBERTS'S PROPOSAL. "A BADGE OF HONOUR." GREAT GATHERING AT LEEDS. By Teloitrapk— Press Association—Gopyilffht (Rec. April 20, 5.5 p.m.) London, April 19. Lord Roberts, who is conducting a campaign in favour of compulsory universal service, had an extraordinary reception at Leeds. A orowd of three thousand people assembled in the Town Hall to welcome hiin, and thirty thousand people gathered in Victoria, Square, where Lord Roberts spoko, and the speech was illustrated by kinematograph pictures on a huge screen. Lord Roberts said the reception was a sign of a great revolution in public opinion. Seven months earlier it seemed beyond human power to rouse tho country out of the torpor, tho youth of tho nation were wading through, and to which the politicians forming tho Cabinet were mostly blind. In Roman history the word ."conscription" was a badge of honour.

He compared tho proposed citizen army with the Continental system, and declared that it was unfair and unpatriotic to describe national service as slavery, or a blood tax.

The citizen army would be exclusively for Home defence, and would never bo required to deal with strikers. Sir Arthur Lawley .seconded a resolution approving the citizen army proposals, and this was carried with enthusiasm. Sir Arthur Lawley said that when Canada, New Zealand, and Australia Bought to strengthen the naval and military forces, it was not done in a spirit of militarism or aggrandisement, but in order that when England's voice is. raised in the councils of tho nations sho might bo enabled to insist on peace.