“YOUR ARMY IS A SHAM.”

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2568, 31 July 1909, Page 2

“YOUR ARMY IS A SHAM.”

SCATHING CONDEMNATION ?BY LORD ROBERTS. DANGER OF INVASION. I —— LONDON, June 3.. “Your army is a. sham.” In a voice warm with the intensity of his- feelings, Lord Roberts in tho House of Lords, on Tuesday, appealed i for an adequate army to defend our ■ country. The great soldier was. the central figure in an impressive scene. The House was silent and deeply attentive when the slight figure_of the ex-Com-mander-in-Ohief rose from the cross benches. Peeresses looked down from the galleries. Mr. Haldane, the War Minister, leaned forward over the rail in front of the throne so as to miss no word. Liberal peers and Unionist Peers on each side of tho ..rouse were all 1 looking towards the short, bronze man in frock coat, the hero of a score of fights. Never has Lord Roberts spoken with more obvious feeling. “WE HAVE NO ARMY!” “Wo are told,” he said, “that the army of 315,000 men will suffice. Will it suffice to prevent a foreign army from invading this country? I do not know what the Territorial Army is intended for There is no test but one, and that is war. Are you going to wait until war comes? “We have no army. We have neither an army to send abroad nor to defend our country at home. While we are sitting hero and taking it so comfortably, danger is coming nearer us every day. You will soon regret your action now. It is to me a perfect marvel how anybody can see wliat is going on and not know that our army would be practically useless if European forces, were to attempt to send an expeditionary force. “The day before yesterday I was talking to a member of this House, and he said ‘Oh, we are getting so near tho 315,000 men that we are going to double it.’ Men' in numbers are weakness if you do not have them trained. No country in the world would attempt to defend itself with a paucity of men that wo have, and they so little trained. “WAR IS NOT A SHAM.” “Men are marching here before tho Lord Mayor of London, but that will not make an army. War is not a r,ham, but your army is a sham. You never will have an army till you make up your mind to take the nation into your confidence. If the nation came forward there would be no difficulty in the world in getting the army. “I implore you not to be satisfied with what you are doing. I ask you to take the matter to heart and to tell the nation what is before them. They will respond.” L-orcl Crewe vigorously defended Mr. Haldane, and complained that the army was made into a party matter in the House of Lords. He thought the case for an inquiry had not been made out by the Duke of Bedford. The debate was carried on to 11.30 p.m., when the Duke of Bedford’s motion for inquiry was carried against the Government by 73 to 22.