RESISTING INVASION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 284, 25 November 1908, Page 3

RESISTING INVASION.

IB ENGLAND PREPAREDr DISCUSSION IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS. LORD ROBERiS' WEIGHTY WORDS. WHAT GERMANY CAN DO. Received 24, 10.55 p.m. London, November 24. In the House of Lords to-day, Lord Roberts, ia a weighty speech, mov-'d that the defence of the country necessitated the Government's immediate attention to making provision foi aa army so strong and ■efficient that tke most formidable foreign nation would hesitate to attempt a landing; also that it was desirable in view of the altered strategic conditions in the North Sea that the Government should, following Air. Balfour's precedent in 1905, make a. statement on the invasion problem and definitely state the* conclusions reached as a result of the recent inquiry by the Committee of Imperial Demdoc.

Lord Roberts disclaimed the slightest hostility, in Britain to Germany. Nevertheless, he emphasised that his ana Lord Lovats inquiries convinced him that there were available at all times in I German ports snips to convey 200000 soldiers. And the latter could be collected without fuss or mobilisation. One hundred thousand could be transported in the same number of ehius which Mr. Balfour was informed in 19Uj would be needed for half that force. Their debarkation would occupy far ies-i tune than Mr. Balfour thought necessary for a. much smaller force. Mr. Bailouts optimism in stating that a serious invasion was not a possibility, they

need not discuss. It had a most unfortunate effect because the War Office up to 1905 was preparing a defence army equal to my emergency then contemplated. The Government inimediat'-Iy stopped.all schemes for resisting invasion and decided that it was only necessary to provide against a couple of raids of 5000 each. The public accepted th* statement with delight. It was just •what they wanted to hear, but it was possible that our fleets might be mislal and an army landed, receiving the h4n of the 80,000 Germans nowm Britain in various capacities, all of whom wr» trained soldiers. The events in the Near East proved that nothing can save a eonntry that is uaable to protect itself. No alliances and no treaties would! avail. Every nation must depend upon ' itself. Lord Roberts concluded by stating that Britain needed territorial forces i of one million. I

Lord Lovat and Lord Milner suppo -t----ed the motion, white Lord Cromer commented on Europe's recent electric shocks. He hoped the statement regarding the invasion problem would be deferred. Lord Middleton urged that if the Government wanted to make territorials a reality they must tell the people the truth in regard to the vital matter of defence. The Earl of Crewe, Secretary of State for the Colonies, in resisting the resolution, hoped the discussion would not lead to grave misunderstanding abroad. He admitted the country ought to be in a position to meet invasion, however Te mote the possibility was. He added that the General Staff of the Army had prepared a scheme making it possible to throw the largest practicable force on any given point at any time it was needed.

Lord Lansdowne said that neither Mr. Balfour nor the Defence Committee claimed finality for the position in 1905. Great changes had been effected since then. He asked for some general statement, including information relating to the force to repel invasion. The last portion of the resolution was withdrawn, and the first part carried by 74 to 32.