THE BRITISH ARMY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2506, 20 May 1909, Page 5

THE BRITISH ARMY.

STRIKING SPEECH BY LORD ROBERTS. HE DECLARES THE ARMY A SHAM United Press Association— Copyright (Received May 19, H.Oo p.m.) LONDON, May 19. In the House of Lords the Duke of Bedford’s motion in favor of an inquiry into the condition of the special reserve, which is merely a paper substitute for tho late militia, was carried by 73 votes to 22, despite the Government representatives’ strenuous opposition on the ground that the inquiry was premature and, in the -words of Lord Lucas, Under-Secretary for War, if the commission sat, it would demand the heads of the late Government for neglect, rather than censure the present Ministry, who are making a promising attempt to Sieve the situation. Lord Roberts, in a striking speech, warned the Government and the country that danger is coining nearer every day, and -that great numbers alone, if untrained, would be a weakness. It would, he said, trouble the wolf little how many sheep there might be. The Avar would not he a sham, but om aimy was a sham. There was only one remedy. The Government should take the country into its confidence, and rouse it to the reality of the danger.