IMPERIAL DEFENCES.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1738, 17 May 1888, Page 1

IMPERIAL DEFENCES.

Lohdon, May 13.

Lord Brassey publishes a statement to the effect tbet the Whitworth Factory is supplying France with heavy arms to the exclusion of English orders. The Head-quarters Staff recommended that the first and second English Army Corps be immediately placed on a war fooling, and tba* tbe Regulars be supplied with magazine rifle*.

In the House of Lords Viscount Hardinge questioned the Duke of Cambridge as to the authorship of the slat>■aents made in ihe Daily Telegraph on the dcf’c'iv-n> ss of 'he defences of Great Britain,'The Duke iu replying dig-

credited the statements made by the Telegraph, and laid he believed the Government fully recognised the import* ance of the matter. Lord Salisbury •evnred the Lords that the Government were exercising the utmmt vigilance for the defence of the country, In the present i f ate of affaire in Europe, negligence by the Government in eneb a mailer would be a grave dereliction of dnty. At the same time it would not be politic to disclose the nature of the precautions being taken. The Premier further remarked that be deprecated the panic, and protested against the statements made by Lord Wolieley at a dinner speech, charging the Government with neglecting the defence of Great Britain, while such matters were being ventilated by Parliament.

May 18.

Lord Randolph Churchill, in a letter to the Dsily Tslegrepb, attacks the War Office, and corroborates the rscsnt statem nts made by Lord Wolialey.

May U.

It is thought that in coniequence of Lord Salisbarj’s recent utterances in (ha House of Lords, Lord Wolseley will resign his position al A rfjutant-GenTul to the Forces.

The Press generally agrees that Lord Wolseley is the only official connected with the War Office possessed of sufficient courage to till the trn'h plainly on the subject of the inefficiency of the s rvice, and regrets that the only reward of bis fearlessness and patriotism in the matter should have been a rebuke at th* •rands of the Premier.

Lieutenant-General Sir Lothian Nicholson, Inspector-Genial of Fortifications, who has been node? examination by the Army and Navy Estimates Committee, admitted that, though he estimated the expenditure at £900.000 lor barrack accon mol at ion, he only asked for £200,000 through fear of Mr Stanhope, In the House of Lords to-dsy, Lord Wolseley admitted that Mr Stanhope had, during his administration, ranch improved the condition of the defences of the country, although, in his opinion, the defence system w»s still unsatisfactory both at home and abroad, and ho was unable to guarantee the safety of London in the event of attack. Lord Wolseley regretted that the exprripion of his opinion as to the defences of the country shoo'd hsye brought on him the censure of the Premier, *nd said he was prepared to tender bis resignation to the War Office. Lord Salisbury, in reply, said that he felt bound to adhere to his former remsrks as to the impropriety of Lord Wolseley’s action in expressing the opinions be did on snch a grave subject in an after dinner speech, but he added that Government would regard bis retirement as a great blow to the service, He lurther promised that Lord Wolaeley’e statements as to the inefficiency of the defences should receive tbs cerefnl consideration of Qosernment. A committee has been appointed to report on the quantity and condition of the military stores and material,

The Continental Press approves of the stops taken by England to place her di fences and her army in a proper com dilion,