BRITAIN’S DEFENCE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16488, 2 March 1914, Page 7

BRITAIN’S DEFENCE.

VIEWS OF LORD ROBERTS AND ADMIRAL SEYMOUR. COMPULSORY SYSTEM OF TRAINING URGED. MR ASQUITH’S REPLY. NO IMMEDIATE DANGER. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. LONDON, February 27. Lord Roberts headed a deputation of the National Service League which presented a memorial to Mr Asquith urging the application of the compulsory principle to the Territorial forces. Lord Roberts stated that the regular army was many thousands ■of men short of its exiguous establishment, and with the Territorial forces lamentably short of officers and with its men deficient in training, discipline and mobility, the situation required prompt action. Admiral Edward Seymour said that defence against invasion, the protection of trade, the destruction of an enemy’s fleet, and the support of colonial stations if left entirely to the Navy, were beyond its present capacity. Mr Asquith said that tho Defence Committee had practically adopted a unanimous report which would be before parliament shortly. Without anticipating the report he could say that its conclusions did not support the view that the Navy was. incapable of protecting the country. He saw no adequate ground to apprehend that tho danger of invasion was any greater or that the capacity of the country to deal with an invader was less now than at any previous time in the history of Britain. MR ASQUITH’S VIEWS. REVISION OF EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM NEEDED. (Received February 28, 6 p.m.) . LONDON, February 28. Mr Asquith, in his reply, added that Territorials were a vast improvement on the volunteers but might require in some respects more encouragement. He did not favour compulsory training. He would welcome a revision of the educational system in order to pay more attention to physical improvement, and also moral discipline and self-control. . THE DOMINION AND THE MOTHER COUNTRY. SOUTH AFRICAN WAR AN OBJECT LESSON. PART OF THE EMPIRE IN PEACE OR WAR. (Received March 2, 12.35 a.m.) SYDNEY, March 1. General Sir lan Hamilton was entertained at dinner by the South African Association. Senator Millen said that in the assistance that Australia, New Zealand and Canada rendered to the Empire during the .South .African war there was involved a much more important question, than the mere sending of volunteer forces to take part. Australia, like the. rest of the dominions, had been from her infancy, reaping the benefits of the great Imperial connection in times of peace and prosperity, but when the time of adversity came, she was ready with a responsive reply from one end of the dominion to the other. Up to that period it was not known what attitude the dominions would take in times of war. This was now made abundantly clear. Peace or war, they were part " the Empire. There were three greai i-uinga in the history of Australia, its foundation, its gift, and its responsible government. It was a great epoch making event when Australia, New Zealand and Canada declared partnership for good or ill. Regarding English criticisms on the defence system, Senator Millen said he trusted that General 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. Many thousands were loyally and honestly doing their duty.