AN ARMY OF THE EMPIRE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3136, 12 March 1909, Page 4

AN ARMY OF THE EMPIRE.

The optimism and persistence of Mr R. B. Haldine, British Secretnry of State for War, are worthy of the great cause that inspires them—the adequate home defence of the United Kingdom, and the extension of the system to all parts of the Empire. Opinnns may differ widely as to the value of his schemes, and the slow recruiting for the Territorials suggests that if that force is, as he says, England's only bulwark against conscription, compulsory service may yet have to be adopted. Mr Haldane, however, will hear nothing against the policy. One could almost wish, indeed, that he were not quite so easily pleased. He possesses a perfect gift for seeing a bright side to situations that would drive many a Minister in his place to despair. It is a fine quality, but a little pessimism might/in this case serve England better. A gloomy deliverance by the Secretary fur War, tinged with dark forebodings, might shake the people out of their apathy, and rouse them to a fuller sense of their persunal duty in the matter of defence. The root idea of Mr Haldane's scheme of defence— Imperial organisation must commend itself to all, even to those who may not agree that at pres- | ant it is feasible.