LORD ROBERTS CRITICISED.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 167, 2 December 1912, Page 5

LORD ROBERTS CRITICISED.

SPEECH BY MR. CHURCHILL. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. Received 1. 5.5 p.m. Loudon, November 30. At the Eighty Club dinner, Mr. Churchill (Lord Haldane presiding) criticised Lord Roberts' recent statements regarding Britain's unreadiness and the failure of the Territorial scheme. It was one thing, he said, to lead troops in the field, and another to he a strategist. Lord Roberts had failed to appreciate that the navy must be the first line of defence. It would be a profound blunder, for the sake of compulsory service, to imperil the navy. It was impossible to find money for both the navy and army. Lord Haldane strongly protested against national service. He noticed that the Opposition were also drifting towards compulsory service. Mr. Churchill said that Britain, Germany, Italy and France desired peace. UThey had only to continue the sincere snd simple policy which tliey had been following, and trust one another. This was a time of trouble. No Power could drive them from the path of sanity and honor. He reiterated his personal views on the federalism of Britain. He advocated an Imperial Parliament as a single Assembly for the Government of the United Kingdom, but the Irish Parliament should be a preliminary.