Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1888-05-12
ENGLAND DEFENSELESS.
SENSATIONAL REPORTS AS TO HER
LACK OF ARMAMENT.
No Denial Made Of the statements-An N
Increase in tho Army the Past Year
Queen victoria's Tour Strengthens En-
lands Relations with Other Countries
Irfsh News.

LONDON. May 12-In the House of Lorus
last night, Niscount Iiardinge asked the
Government as to the truth of the reports
ths England is defenseless, that her guns
are the worst in the world and that many
OF her ships and ports are unarmed.
The Duke OF Cambridge denied that the
country was in imminent danger. The
sensational articles IN the Press, purporting
to have emanated from the highest author
ity, had not emanated from him.
Lord Salisbury said the Government
must observe the utmost reticence in such
matters. Nothing could be more insane
than to explain 10 the world England's 5
strength and the nature of the precautions
she was taking The fact was that there
had been Q considerable increase of prep
arations in recent years. Since 1884 the
army had been increased from lSl, ,2l7
men of all arms to 212, 40. Lord Salisbury
strongly condemned Lord Walsley's recent
speech at banquet Lord Wolsley ought
to have spoken in Parliament, where his
statements could have been answered and
refuted. The tone of panic which pervaded
the language used outside Of Parliament
was not shared by the Government, which
was fully conscious that to disregard the
defences of England in the present state of
the world, would be a very grave direlic-
ton of duty.
In the House of Commons Lord George
Hamilton, in reply to question, said that
the Russian squadron in the Pacific con-
sisted of one ironclad and four cruisers and
was not equal either in numbers or strength
to the British China station alone
It's asserted by the Tories that during
the Queens recent trip to Italy and Ger
many the friendly ties of England Ger
many and Austria became very much
strengthened. Prince Bismarck, il is al
legged, feared that Mr.. Gladstone might re-
turn to power and therefore hesitated
about cementing an alliance with England
until the Queen assured him that such an
event was altogether beyond the range OF
possibility. Ifit is true that the Queen
made such statement it is quite evident
that Tory defeat would mean something
more than mere parliamentary crisis.
| The Evening Star expresses its belief that
the report of the proposed endowment OF
O new Catholic university in Dublin is well
founded, and asserts that the institution
will represent the price which the ministry
through the Duke of Norfolk offered for
the Papal rescript There are still large
number Of persons however, who believe
the report TO be hoax. despite the fre-
quency and persistency of its circulation.
| There is already State-endowed Catholic
| University in Ireland, and person.
/ who remember the hot parliamentary
| fight over the Maynooth gran,
some fifteen years ago can hardly be brought
to believe that the Government can &C.
complish the passage of bill endorsing
another Catholic institution OF learning,
particularly as the price Of Papal edict
20 ineffective as the decree against the plan
of campaign. The present Catholic Uni.
versity of Ireland, comprising eight col
lese,, isamply adequate TO all requirement,
and this well known fact furnishes another
powerful argument against the establish
ment Of another at the expense Of the
/ State