DEFENCE OF BRITAIN.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1996, 2 March 1914, Page 7

DEFENCE OF BRITAIN.

COMPULSORY SYSTEM URGED. PREMIER DOES NOT AGREE WITH PROPOSAL. By Toleeraph—Press Aeeoclatlon—Oovyrleht , . (Rec.. March 1, 0.0 p.m.)

Lon Jon, February 28. Field Marshal L)rd Roberts headed a deputation from the National- Service League and presented a memorial to Mr. ;Asquith;(tho Premier), urging the application of the compulsory principle to-Territorials. .

Lord Roberts stated that the Regulars;! were many • thousands:. short of its exiguous establishment, . while the Ter-ritorials'-.were lamentably short of. offiarid the men deficient in training, uiteijiline,' and mobility. The situation required prompt action. , Admiral Sir Edward Seymour, (retireil) said that defence . .against invasioii;; protection of.trade, destruction cf an enemy's fleet, and! support of colonial stations, if .left entirely to the Navy were beyond its present capacity. .' Mr. .-Asquith replied that' the Defenco •Committee had . practically adopted a unanimous report, which would shortly he.laid beforo Parliament. Without anticipating the leport, he could; say its conclusions did not - support, the. view that, the Navy was incapable of protecting; the icountry; He saw no adequate ground to approhend that- tho Sanger of invasion was greater or the capacity of, the'country, to. deal; with an .invader' Jess than before in our history. He aided' that the Territorials ivere a vast improvement on volunteers, but they might require, in somo respects, more encouragement. Ho did not favour compulsory training, but would welcome a revision of the educational system_ in order to jiay more attention .to physical improvement, and also moral discipline and self-control. ...

' ' - BEFORE THE DEPUTATION, , , ACCIDENT TO LORD ROBERTS. (Rce. March 1,.5.5 pm.) :■•/ London, . February 28. . Beforq leaving his residence, Lord Roberts slipped near the fireplace, and, in trying to save .himself, his. hand touched the ■ fire.' It was ,'badly burned tind had to be bandaged; Though suffering*, acute pain, he was not deterred from,heading the deputation. i

PARTNERSHIP FOR GOOD OR ILL. SPEECH BT FEDERAL MINISTER' - OF DEFENCE. . "'■■■■■■■ (Rec.' March 2, 0.35 a.m.) , . • Sydney, March. 1. General Sir lan Hamilton (InspectorGeneral of the Overseas Forces; was entertained tit dinner : by - the . South African Association. - " ' • Senator Millen -(Federal; Minister of Defence), in the course,,of , a speech, said that in the assistance Tyhich Australia, New Zealand,; and Canada had enderedto tho Empire during' the. South African War, there was involved a much more important question .than. , the. mere' sending of volunteer forces to take part in the war.. ' Australia, like the .rest of the Dominions, had been from' infancy reaping the benefits of-a great Imperial connection in times of, peace find prosperity, but when the time of adversity came, there was a rndy and responsive reply from one/ end of the Dominions to the other. Up to that period it , was not known what attitude the Dominions would -take in times of war. It was then made abundantly clea rtliartnfrpraro-OT. war they were .part- of the < Empire. - The three great things in the history of Austria were, its foundation, the gift of responsible - , government',- ;.f and ....that great epoch-making event when' Australia, New' Zealand, and. Canada declared;, a partnership for good or ill. Regarding English criticisms of ,the defence systems, he trusted that Sir. Lan Hamilton would tell the 'people of England that the compulsory training system of the Commonwealth rested on something more substantial than military jingoism, and that many thousands were loyally and honestly..doing their duty.. - • . : .