ENGLAND'S DANGER

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 84, 2 January 1918, Page 5

ENGLAND'S DANGER

LORD FRENCH UTTERS A WARNING. Viscount French, addressing recently a meeting convened by the London Chamber of Commerce, of owners of commercial motor vehicles, spoke of tho role to be fulfilled by the motor volunteers in caso of national .emergency. "There is an old soldiers' maxim," ( ho observed, "which says that it ia always that which we do not expect which happens in war. The history of war in all ages affords ample proof of this, but I do not think such examples have ever been so forcible as in the war we havo been waging in the last three years. If this be truo, then, if we are wise, we must preparo for any and every eventuality. For all we know, tho next surprise may be the invasion of this country. Be ready, then, for anything, and seo that in such an event the volunteers who are called to assist in the defence of tho country are provided with all the motor transport which our national resources can afford.

"When emergency arises tho Motor Volunteers will be fully organised to take up at once the transport duties of the volunteer forces. For such a force as tho volunteers, and for such objects as they have to attain in case of invasion, mobility is the one great essential, and it is to tho Motor Volunteers that wo look to provide them with mobility. It may, indeed, bo justly said that the Motor Volunteers are absolutely essential to the effective defence of these islands in case of threatened or actual invasion.'

"The latest regulations governing tho use of motor vehicles will seriously affeot the Motor Volunteer Corps, unless owners of motor vehicles agree to tlfc 'recontmondations .which we arc putting forward. The new rules lay down that licences will only be granted where cars and drivers are placed at tho disposal of the military authorities for use in the event of national emergency. It has been pointed out to you this afternoon that this may vory well act most detrimentally upon the efficiency of tho Motor Volunteer Corps; but it has also been pointed out how the new regulations may be so utilised as to increase rathor than to diminish that efficiency. What I want to see is tbe recommendation of Sir John Lister-Kayo accepted and carried out by all owners of motor vehicles throughout the country. I think I may say generally that all we may pet, if our recommendations aro accepted, will not very much exceed what we require. Indeed, as regards tho requirements on emergency, our wants will be so extensivo that I may safely say there will be no more available than we require. "Tho Motor Volunteer Corps is absolutely essential to the maintenance of a volunteer forco in this country, if that force is to bo kept useful and efficient. During the- present year tho use and efficiency of the volunteer forco has been greatly enhanced and increased. It is most unfortunate ithnt. we should still find amongst us people who aro willing to, sneer at them and to ignore thorn, and there are still mi.irters in which they aro discouraged."