The Dominion. MONDAY, AUGUST 17, 1914. COULD BRITAIN BE INVADED?

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2230, 17 August 1914, Page 4

The Dominion. MONDAY, AUGUST 17, 1914. COULD BRITAIN BE INVADED?

A great war such as that' in which th§'British' Empire' id at' p'resetit" en l gaged naturally p'royokps; discussion on ma,riy ' interesting problemsnaval, military, and international. Whichever sideis successful:there are sure to bs important chahgqs'in the map of Europe, and .it is almost'certain that 'exchanges of' possessions will also take place in' other parts of the wovl'd. -If Germany should co.me'through /thS "struggle tri'uml pluiit, 'she would' ho ' doubt insist upon a largo addition to'her territory bordering' on the North Sea. This would help to mako her the most formidable menace to "Britain since the days when Napoleon, was master of .the Continent of Europe. Fortunately Germany's' ambitions do not seem 'likely'to be realised." Iri th'e words, of the military correspondent of the London Times, "wo can well be satisfied with the' events of the past 'twelve days" ; L but thos<S.< who control : the' destinies of the British Empire must ' always ' consider the future as \yell as the piesent, and must bo ,"prepared for every possible emergency. -At such'a crisis as'that through which wo iirb how passing,' it 'is not surprising that' war exports in England are once more discussing the question whether it would be possible for a, foreign foe to invade England. A "cablegram which" appeared "in Saturday's "issue" of The 'Dominion- stated that Mr'. Archibald Hußi), .' a naval authority, declares that no great invading army could bo ianded 'in Bri'tairi,' and ho is iiii ; itble;'to' see what purpose could be served ]in placing a few thousand troops in'a country having more than half a million men under arms. This point of view has much reason and common "sense on its side. It is certainly very/ widely held in Britain, but it 'must not be forgotten that many German military experts contend that 'Britain "'is not nearly' so invulnerable as'is generally believed and the methods by"which she'could bo invaded are frequently discussed with much confidence by members of the war party in' Germany.' ' The more; sober-minded German soldiers know 1 _that' the invasion of Britain is easier talked ighput than accomplished;. but, Hurd points out, many of th&n'■believe that' one or two successful'raids would havo an appreciable effect'ijj determining the result of a wir. It may be taken for granted, however, that the Brit, ish naval and military authorities have carefully considered all such possibilities, and tlutt' Effective riieasin'es have been taken to deal with any sudden attack, that'" might be .made, oh the coasts of the' United Kitigdorq,. ■ '■" '" The methods and weapons- of war-

fare have undergone such . great m changcs within living memory that ai it is quiix; impossible to predict what tl may happen iu the distant future; hi but'it is safe to say that, under; ex- fl< isting conditions," a successful inva- a' sion.of Britain is practically' impos- ii sible' as long as the British Navy re- ai mains unconquercd. Before ah enemy could venture to sond an invading forc'o across the'water; he must first defeat the British Fleet, and also he strong, enough to keep his communications secure. "A modern army.,'' said Lord WolseleYj "is such tl a complicated'organism that any'in- c , terruption in 'tlio line of communioa- i tions tends to'bieak'up and destroy f, its very life." The fact that a British a ,army has just been landed in Bel- 0 gium is a very convincing" proof of the'strength *>f BritairiV'sea power.. j; It is" not'-' Bufficionf-fpr -an inva'dei' q merely'' to evade " temporarily/ tho j enemy's warships. He must either have actually defeated them, or be s in a position to defeat them-should j, they'appear'on the scene. ' When. - Napoleon invaded Egypt he succeed- T ed in eluding Nelson and' landing his army, but-the Battle of the Nile. r left tho French forces exiled j. arid hopeless "in a foreign land, is an j irhpressiye .illustration of the folly of taking troops across 7 'the water a without first securing command of T tho sea- Britain has never been sue- 0 cessf.ully invaded since the Norman c Conquest in'lo66'.' 'During the eight j hundred years a,nd more which have r intervened since then, many attempts £ have been' made by' other nations to £ subdue the'cq'tfntry, "but they 'havo ] never'been able to'get. over the water wall—"The To'wn->vall-of England, j as an old Writer calls'ii.' s Although England were"likened to a city, f And tho-roall cfi'viron wefe the sea. '■■' ] England has" had' somo narrow, escapes at' times when' her Navy has 1 been neglected,' and 'the vital import;- ) arice of ' : sea. p'ower has he'en fp'rgot- < ten)" but ' she ' has always managed j to pull' through in the long ■ run.' ; Again and again sea power has saved J Britain from being conquered, or : ffom' being devastated-by the armies i of foreign 1 foes/ "It enabled' her to < defeat 'the Spaniards and the Dutch 1 ,in : days'gone by." It frustrated' the \ ? invasion-'planned by' the great .j Napoleon a hundred years ago,-and ) our sea "pcivrer 'will be'one ';of _tLc ] main'faictors'at the present' critical i time' in ' overthrowing Germany's ; 'worl'd. •