IMPERIAL DEFENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 128, 28 June 1909, Page 2

IMPERIAL DEFENCE.

BRITAIN UNPREPARED. LORD IIEHESFORD'S INDDCTMENT. THE MEANING 01' COLONIAL DREADNOUGHTS. •Received June 28, 1.5 a.m. London, June 27. At the Imperial Press Conference Lord Charles Bcresford said lite dominant note of all the statesmen in ad* dressing the conference had licea that of grave anxiety, and this note was not expressed without reason, "In my opinion," he said, " the reason is tnat they know we are not prepared." The colonial offers to build Dreadnoughts was tiie severest condemnation possible of Britain's Imperial defence policy. The overseas nations recognised what Britain ought to have recognised earlier, namely, that Britain had arrived at a time when it was impossible to maintain the two-power standard without the overseas dominions helping.

DEVELOPING THE IMPERIAL IDEA.

THE MILITARY PROBLEM.

"A GENERAL STAFF,"

ADVICE TO THE COLONIES.

NEED FOR REORGANISATION OF EMPIRE'S RESOURCES.

Received 28, 0.20 a.m. London, June 27. Lord Es'lior (member of the Council of Defence), presiding nt the closing session of the Imperial Press Conference, said that, thanks to Mr. Joseph Chamberlain, Colonel Seeley (Under-Secre-tary for tire Colonies), Lord Rosebcry, and the late Mr. Cecil Rhodes, the conception of Empire Day was wholly different to that in tho seventies. The difiiculties began when the conception passed from belief to action. The first necessity was to move slowly and prudently towards an Imperial Nnvy. This I meant that British officers and sailors all over the world were not only willing to fight but trained to light side by Bid# in the same fleet. The delegates would he wise if tliey limited their consideration to that which was practicable. Within ten years there would thus' bo clear ground to enable statesmen to achieve practical measures. The dominions must gain experience themselves. Their true guides were not the Admir-1 aity but their own officers who lcamod I the lessons in their own fleet. The military problem could be summed up in three words, "a general staff," whereby the personnel and material of war could he standardised throughout the Empire. Defence meant not only the Navy and Army, but the organisatioii in pence of all the resources, financial and other, for the protection Of the people. He hopefully looked forward to the time when the Committee of Imperial Defence would be strengthened by the addition of oversea representatives.

BOLD CONSTRUCTIVE POLICY CALLED FOR.

Received 27, 5.5 p.m.

London, June 20. Lord Milner, speaking at tho Compatriots' Club, referring to the great defence movement now stirring the Empire, remarked that the overseas dominions desire and mean business in this matter, adding: "The occasion calls for a bold constructive polioy. The more courageous and comprehensive the proposals advanced by the Home Government, the greater their chance of success."