BRITISH TERRITORIALS IN WAR

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1743, 7 May 1913, Page 4

BRITISH TERRITORIALS IN WAR

WARNING BY LORD ROBERTS. "A POSITIVE DANGER." London, March 12. Lord Roberts, who will make a special appeal to working men at a (,'rcat meeting at Wolverhampton on bydev, spoke yesterday to tho captains 'if industry on. the caiiso of national service. The spcccli. was the result of an invitation by tho Association of Chambers of Commorco of the United Kingdom,' which met at tho Hotel Jlctropolc. The association considered resolutions dealing with national training from tho London, Dublin, Sheffield, Nottingham, Exeter, and Australasian Chambers. Tlicso resolutions wero consolidated in the following : — "That this association strongly urges his Majesty's Government and tho /leaders of tho Opposition to consider tho desirability oi' passing through Parliament a Bill for ensuring tho adoption, In tho interests of tho security of tho . Empire and the moral and physical -welfare of tho population, of such a course of universal training in discipline and arms for tho youth of tho nation as will meet the urgent necessity for adequato national defence." Lord Roberts said: "Someone said just ii-ow that tho Territorial Force was a failure. To this statement there was a little opposition. lam hero to tell you quite plainly and frankly that, whether you all believe it, or not, the Territorial Force is a failure. The original number of 315,000 men for the Territorials was based not upon necessity as regards numbers, but because the author of tho force, basing his calculations on the past, knew that it would bo useless to look for moro from tho voluntary system. "Numbers, as we all know, are of no uso"without efficiency, and the Territorial Force as at present constituted can never be efficient. Let those who doubt this remember the lessons taught th*m by tho French war, where they f"W" the hinoc wrought on tho French tr.iops tliicugh lack of proper training. The saino lessons wero to bo learned by the I lili'nii war, where they saw he delic'iMcy of the Turkish soldiers. In that case there was hopeless demoralisation. "WEEN THEY FI'jHT." i "The same demoralisation will tako place with the Territorials if called upon to fight, and not '.'.rough any fault of their own, but because ot a iaek of training. We are face 10 face v;ith grrtt difficulties. At tac preMiit time things are darkening around ':s. Annann ill? are being increased, but we are standing still.

"I regard ilMraiuod .'nen. as a prsitiro danger. Put it to yourselves. Can you slwot, can you march, aro you fitted to defend ycnr country? Those are things that not a few but (-very man in this country should bo'willing and able to do. You must make the people of this country take an interest in the Army and make them, feel it is their owi-a vital national thing. "Not for much longer can I actively advocate the cause 1 havo so Nearly at heart. But I hope to see the cau-o I have' been advocating adopted by the country. Then I can take my rest and pass the last of my (lays in peace and quiet." The resolution was carried unanimously.