The Daily News. THURSDAY, JULY 13, 1905. INTERNATIONAL PEACE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7871, 13 July 1905, Page 2

The Daily News. THURSDAY, JULY 13, 1905. INTERNATIONAL PEACE.

A very old ami oft quoted m?xim is that which slates that if peace is. desired we must be prepared for war. Those nations which have reached the exalted position of a Great Power retognise the principle of the maxim as applied to warlike preparations, hut do not always limit its scope to Ike attainment of peace. In a recent cable from London it is staved that Lord Roberts, during a discussion in the House of Lords on the possibility ol an invasion of England, expressed the opinion that the British Army was as unfitted ami unprepared for war as it was in lSill). Few people are in a better position to arrive at a correct judgment on this | question than the distinguished soldier who recently held the position of Commander-in-Chief of the Army. Lord Roberts has always heen outspoken in his opinions, hut whether i; was wise on his part to proclaim to the world, with al! the weight naturally attached to his utterances,

that the army was inefficient and unprepared, is altogether another question. Moreover, though the warning I may have been justified by circumjstances, it comes at a time when there is war-fever in the air, especially in Kaiserland. It almost seems as if an open invitation were being extended to any Power on the lookout tor a vrial of strength, to make an opportunity for carrying out its wish, though we are confident nothing was further from Lord Roberts' thoughts than this. Were it not for the fact that periodically there is a recurrence of these pessimistic out bursts, the liritish public might be seriously alarmed, nut, as it is, very little heed is given to any statement seriously alarmed, hut, as it is, vet;, as there exis.s a deeply rooted conviction that it will rise to Ibo occasion when called upon. There is no doubt that Britain's greatest dangei point is India, and it is there Ilia! her fighting strength and efficiency is most essential. It is evident that Lord Kitchener is thoroughly aliuto the importance and magnitude m his task in organising the' Indian forces in a thorough manner. The recent friction between the civil and military chiefs in India appears to have been removed, and those who know Lord Kitchener have the strongest confidence in his methods. The other Great Powers arc continually on the alert to improve their armies, but whether from a desire to enforce peace or indulge in war is for the future to determine. There is, however, a ruovcmvnt on fool having (or its object the promotion of brotherhood amongst I lie people of the various nations, and even if absolute success does not wait upon their Well-meant endeavours, no harm accrues. The new peacemakers arc to be known as the "F. 1.0." brotherhood, the initials standing for "fraternitas inter geutes," or, "brotherhood between peoples of other nations." The founder, Sir Thomas Uarclay, is a well-

...omas Uarclay, is a wv known peace advocate, ami it is pi, posed to have self-governed branchc in every country with a central com rnittec at the head of all. Simple as is the .scheme, it may grow into a powerful lever for good, hut we are not .sanguine as to its reducing national expenditure on military armament and equipment, so that it will expedite the advent of that era when all national disputes will be submitted to arbitration, and wars will be an historic relic of barbarous limes.