DEFENCE OF THE EMPIRE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 97, 19 December 1912, Page 3

DEFENCE OF THE EMPIRE.

THE HON. J. ALLEN’S TOUR,

'By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.)

(United Press Association.) Melbourne, December 18

Defence circles display keen interest in Mr. Allen’s \isii. It is considered certain that the Admiralty’s advice to New Zealand will bo to join Australia in the Australian navy. Mr. Allen will arrive and be given an official reception on Saturday. He will be entertained at a Government luncheon on Monday.

COMPULSORY TRAINING

“THE TIME MUST COME.”

London, December 10

(Independent Cable Service.) Lord Roberts has issued a book, which is being sold for Cd, reiterating his advocacy of compulsory military service.

‘The Times,’ in a leader, says: “We all know now, whatever some of us may say, that voluntary enlistment for the army has broken, down. Wo know that the regular army is not largo enough and that the territorial force is a sham. We know, in fact, that compulsory service for a serious period must be faced without delay. The people must be told how much is going to be asked of them, for what purpose, and at what cost.

“The call will be the harder to make the longer it is delayed. It is nearly a century since tin) people were faced with a national danger in any serious form.

“Is democracy capable of preserving its great heritage from dissipation ? We most firmly believe that British democracy is.”