"YOUR ARMY IS A SHAM."

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 149, 20 July 1909, Page 4

"YOUR ARMY IS A SHAM."

•SCATHIXG CONDEMNATION BY , LORD ROBERTS, DANGER OF INVASION. London, June 3. ' 'lour Army is a sham!" In a voice warm with the intensity of his feeling, Lord Roberts in the House of Lords on Tuesday appealed for an adequate Army to defend our country. Tne great soldier was the central iigure in in impressive scene. The House was silent and deeply attentive when the slight figure of the ex-Com-inandcr-m-Chief rose from the cross benches. Peeresses looked down from the galleries. Mr. Hahlane, the War Minister, leaned forward over the rail .n front of the throne so as 1,, miss no word. Liberal Peers and Unionist Peers on each side of the House were all looking towards the short, bronzed man in frock coat, the hero of a stoic of lights. .Never has Lord Roberts spoken with more obvious feelino-. -WE HAVE NO AR'MY" "\U are told," he .said, "that the Army of 3b,000 men will suffice. Will it sufli™ to prevent a foreign army lom invading this country? ] do not know what the Territorial Army is intended for. There is no test but one, end that is ivar. Are you going to wait until war conies'

Flo have no Army. We have neither an Army to s'eml abroad nor to defeid our country at home. While we are here and taking it so comfort- ,"•'• 'l a "«" r . 1S coming near u 6 everv ™£ T)° U T" SOUn TC « refc y° m non. it is to me a perfect marvel how anybody can see what is going on and know that our Army would he perfectly useless if tnropeau forces were to attempt to send an expeditionary force, lie day More yesterday I was talking, to a member of this House, and he 315,000 men that we are going to double "• j.U«u in numbers-are weakness if you do not have them trained. No country m tie „orld would attempt to efendistdfwiththevatadly o/Lii that v, have, ami they so little trained. "War \ti not A SHAM." Ale-,i are marching hefore th o t o .. ( i Mayor of iondon, but that will not -naive an Army. War is not a sham •l»|t your Army is a sIl;lm , y ou ™: v„ have an Army until you make up .Vour mindsta take the natio-a into vou C "" . lw - « tte imtlun came forward "■'"• < .would he no difficulty j u the world in getting the Army. ...,','i? 1 "" 1 y<"| not to he satisfied with "it .vou are .Icung. 1 ilsk y o„ to lake turn what ,s .before them. They will Hspond," y ""' Lord Crewe-vigorously defended Mr '"J' 1 """-"".' 1 complained that the \r ,, v as made into a ,mrty matter in . "ousv ol Lords, lie thought th, cis c TO!" IY,I OIINIMIT lull! linf 1,,,', i »y tin' Duke if tdfird " ° l " The debate was carried on to 11 ,J >.■■".. when to Duke or j'.edfo d's „',' I ;on for cnouiry was carried a4i«t ' Government by 73 votes to &