FULL RESOURCES OF EMPIRE MUST BE READY

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2239, 27 August 1914, Page 5

FULL RESOURCES OF EMPIRE MUST BE READY

SPEECH BY LORD KITCHENER BRITISH ARMY IN FIELD STEADILY TO INCREASE (Reo. August 26, 5.5 p.m.). '" - T , _. ± , . , London, August 25. Lord Kitchener, in the House of Lords, said that the troops at Mons were for thirty-six hours in contact with a superior force. • They maintained the traditions of British 6oldiere with tho utmost gallantry. Their movements 'demanded the greatest of steadiness by tho soldiers and of skill by the commanders. ! >"I know how deeply Franco appreciated their prompt assistance at the very outset of the war," added Lord Kitoliener. "The moral and material support must prove a factor of. high military significance, in restricting tho sphero and determining the duration of hostilities. Had the conditions of strategy permitted, everyono in Britain would hav©-rejoiced to see us ranged alongsido the gallant Belgian army in a,niore superb atrugglo against desperate odds." ,_ 'The Empires with whom wo are warring have called to the colours almost' • their entire male populations. The principle Britain is observing is that while the enemies' maximum force undergoes constant diminution, the reinforcements Britain is preparing shall isteadily increase and flow put until we have in the field, in numbers as well as-quality, an army which will not be unworthy of the power and responsibilities of the British Empire. "I cannot at this stage say what will' be the limits of the forces required, or what, measures we maye eventually find necessary to supply and maintain them. "We have a vast rcservo in tho Mother Country and in tho Overseas Dominions, and the latter's response has abundantly proved that' we have not looked in vain to those sources. In Britain 70 battalions of the Territorials have already volunteered for foreign service. The second army of one hundred thousand is already practically secured, and behind these are the Reserve, the Special Rcsorve, and the' National Reserve, each of which has a part in the national defence scheme. i "The field army we are creating may rise during the next sis months to. 30 divisions, but if the war is protract ed and our fortun.es vary or are adverse,' exertions and sacrifices .beyond any which have been demanded will be required of the British Empire, and wero they re quired - 1 am sure they will not be denied to the extreme needsof tho State by Parliament arid people." ■ (Cheers.) Lord Kitchener said that if the war outlasted lus term of three years others would "take our places and see the matter through."