IS THERE DANGER.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 90, 23 April 1913, Page 5

IS THERE DANGER.

DEFENCE OF THE EMPIRE.

BLUE WATER OR BLUE FUNK

[By Electric Telegraph—Copyright] [United Press Association.] London, April 22.

In the House of Lords, discussing the Army Annual Bill, Sir \V. F. Midleton said that the danger of invasion had increased .since Lord Haldane’s scheme of 1907. He asked how the Government was going to get the requisite numbers for defence. Lord Haldane replied that the Committee of Imperial Defence was investigating the problem. The existing scheme was based on the fact that they were an island power, responsible for a great Empire. Voluntary service would enable them to maintain the army and navy required. The country should not bo unduly nervous. It was unnecessary to belong to either the “Blue Water School,” which did not believe in the possibility of invasion, or the “Blue Funk School,” living in daily fear of an invasion. Lord Curzon appealed for the appointment of a conference composed of the leaders of botli parties, to endeavour to solve the army question.

ARMY AND NAVY. Prince Louis of Pattenburg, at a meeting of the Union Jack Club, urged harmonious action of the army and navy. There was, he said, no more foolish and mischievous statement than to say that the fleet alone was sufficient to keep an enemy from their shores. A sufficiently-trained professional army was quite as necessary as a navy. IMPERIAL OR COLONIAL NAVY. In the House of Commons Mr Churchill declined to discuss during ques:km time whether it was more effectual for the Dominions to provide additions to the Imperial Navy or build ’ocal navies. AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE. MR ALLEN ADVISES THE ADMIRALTY. London, April 22.

Mr R. L. Outhwaite, in the House of Commons, asked whether the Admiralty were aware of'the endeavors to make the Australian Government Induce New Zealand to allow her battle cruiser to be added to the first cruiser squadron; Tyhether it was che Admiralty’s policy to isolate the ° .mmonwealth in its endeavour to safeguard Imperial interests in the Pacific. Mr Churchill replied -‘‘No” to noth questions. They had had, he said, the advantage of a long discussion ,vith Mr Allen, who was fully advised of the situation in Australasia. SIR WILLIAM HALL-JONES AT FREMANTLE. ON THE SUBJECT ,OF DEFENCE, (Received 9.30 a.m.) Fremantle, April 2-3. Sir William Hall-Jones interviewed, said: “It is good news to hear that Australia will lay down another Dreadnought. With New Zealand and Australia doing their share of Imperial defence, with Canada and South Africa coming into line, with the possibility of India doing her share, and if Britain adopts some system of universal training, the Empire will be practically inviolable. We should prove ourselves irresistiblle in attack ,nd invulnerable in defence.” Sir William was emphatic that compulsory training in Britain must come. The only question was whether to wait till there was trouble or insist on having it before it was too late.

PUBLIC OPINION EXERCISED

(Received 9.45 a.m.) London, April 22

The discussion on the Army Annual Bill in the House of Lords is attracting considerable attention, especially Lord Haldano’s remark that the Dominions may yet do more than defend themselves; and also the suggestion that both political parties might take counsel together, which was subsequently pressed by Lord Curzon. r i he Pall Mall Gazette supports the latter proposal. The Westminster Gazette states that if the Territorials fall below strength, the Government will not adopt compulsion, but will increase the second line of naval defence or retain a professional army till the sea frontiers are secure. The Daily Mail declares that last year’s manoeuvres showed that a fleet representing the Germans were able to land 28,000 on the Yorkshire coast.