“ YOUR ARMY IS A SHAM.”

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 464, 22 July 1909, Page 3

“ YOUR ARMY IS A SHAM.”

SCATHING CONDEMNATION BY LORD ROBERTS.

DANGER OF INVASION.

London, June 3. “ Your Army is a sham !” In a voice warm with the intensity of his feeling, Lord Roberts in the House of Lords on Tuesday appealed for an adequate Army to defend our country. The great soldier was the central figure in an impressive scene. The House was silent and deeply attentive when the slight figure of the. ex-Commander-in-Chief rose from the cross benches. Peeresses looked down from the galleries. Mr Haldane, the .War Minister, leaned forward over the rail in front of the throne so as to miss no word. Liberal Peers and Unionist Peers on each side of the House were all looking towards the short bronzed man in frock coat, the hero of a Score of fights. Never has Lord Roberts spoken with more obvious feeling. “WE HAVE NO ARMY.”

*‘ We are told,” he said, that the Army of 315,000. men will suffice to prevent a foreign army from invading this country ? I do not know what the Territorial Army is intended for. There is no test but one, and that is war. Are you going to wait until war comes ? “We have no army. We have neither an army to send abroad nor to defend out country at home. While we are sitting here and takihg it so comfortably, danger is coming near us every day. You will soon*regret your action now. It is to me a perfect marvel how anyone can see what is going on and know that our Army would be perfectly useless if European forces were to attempt to send an expeditionary force. “The day , before yesterday I was talking to a member of this House, and he said, “Oh, we are getting so near the 315,000 men that we are going to double it.” Men in numbers are weakness if

you do not have them trained. No country in the world would - attempt to . defend itself with the v paucity of. tiifed that we have, and they so little trained. “WAR IS NOT A SHAM.” “Men are'marching before the Lord Mayor of London, but that will not make an Army. War is not a sham, but your Army is a sham. You never will have an

Army until you make up your minds to take the nation into your confidence. If the nation came forward' there would be no difficulty in the world, in getting the Army. .

* T implore you not to be satisfied with what you are doing. I ask you to take the matter to heart and to tell the nation what is before them. They will respond.” Lord Crewe vigorously defended Mr Haldane, and complained that the Army was made into a party matter in the House ' of Lords. He thought the .case \ tor an en’i i l l : i !i f i» : i: l-j* •' ■ !■^ ?

qniry had not been made out by the Duke of Bedford, The debate was carried on to 11.30 p.m., when the Duke of Bedford’s motion for enquiry was carried against the Government by 73 votes to 22.