ARMY ESTIMATES

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10680, 8 July 1912, Page 5

ARMY ESTIMATES

CABLE NEWS

(United Ft ess Association— By Meeiric Telegraph —Copyright.)

POSITION OF BRITAIN

TRAINING OF SOLDIERS.

(Received Last Night, 5.5 o'clock.)

LONDON, July G.

During the discussion of tho Armjr estimates in the House of Commons, Colonel J. B. Seely, Secretary for War, declared that the difficulty of invading Britain had been increased by the recent increased number of submarines, and by the acquisition of reconnoitring aeroplanes. Tho Territorials were not all that could bo desired, but they were not inadequate. It, would, said Colonel Seely, be impossible to secure the co-operation of .■the Dominions iif Britain acted on theprinciple that a soldier was useless unless trained for two years. Australia and New Zealand, with short-drill pec iods, had produced magnificent bodies®, of men.

THE HOME DEFENCE.

IS IT INADEQUATE?

(Receiv o'clock.) In the debate on the Army e^. 1 ™ tes. a resolution to reduce the salary of Colonel Seely, on the ground thafc the Home defence is dangerously inadequate. amounting to a sham, was defeated by 230 votes to 190. Many Labour members were absents when the vote was taken.