Morning journal and courier., 1888-05-12
News by Telegraph FROM ALL QUARTERS. ENGLAND'S WAR FORCES On a Weak Footing For
 Service. IA MONSTER IRON CASTING. Boats in the Streets of
 Galena. GUERRERO DROPS ON THE TRACK. An Athlete Impaled on 8
 Bar.
GUERRERO DROPS ON THE TRACK.
THE DEFENsEs OF ENGLAND

THE DEFENSES OF ESN LAND On a Much Better Footing Than Re
 cent Sehsafaonal Articles Would In-
 dicate.
 LONDON, May 11.-In the House of Lords to-day Viscount Harding asked what truth there was in the reports that England was in defenselsss condition, that she had the worst guns in the world and that her ports and ships were unarmed. The Duke of Cambridge, commander of the forces, denied that the country was in imminent danger. He said the sensational articles in the news papers emanating from the highest military authority did not proceed from him. The government were fully alive to the impor tance of reforming and strengthening the de- fensive forces and were considering means by which this should be done. He did not doubt the result would satisfy the country.
 Lord Salisbury protested against the pre- vailing impression that because the govern ment did not make showy speeches their vigilance slept. The government must prac- tice the utmost vigilance in such matters. Nothing could be more insane than to explain to all the world what were England's strength and the nature of the precautions she was taking. It would be treachery to
 
 fact was there had been considerable increase of preparations within recent years. There was no ground for representing the govern ment with neglecting the country's defenses. Since 1884 both the army and navy had been strengthened. The army had been increased from 1S1, ,217 men of all arms to $212, ,470 men, while the expenditures for the navy had risen from e4 ,449, 900 to e6, ,e11, ,O00. He complained that high military authorities were making statements against the govern ment at public banquets where they could not be answered. General Lord Wolseley he said had declared that the reason that the army and navy were not as strong as they ought to be was to be found in the system of government by party, which was the curse of England, depriving her statesmen of manly honesty. Wolseley ought to have made that statement in Parliament. The panicky tone pervading the language used by military au- thorities outside of the House was not shared by the government, who were fully conscious that any disregard of the national defenses in the present state of the world would be 8 grave dereliction of duty.
 In the House of Commons Lord George Hamilton, first lord of the admiralty, was questioned regarding a report that the strength of the Russian squadron in the Pacific was superior to that of the English squadron in those waters. In reply, he stated that the Russian fleet consisted of one ironclad and four cruisers, and was not equal 1n numbers or in strength to the Brit ish force on the China waters alone. The admiral in command has declared that he was perfectly satisfied with the strength of the British fleet in those waters. (Cheers.) Salisbury's Speech Raises a Breeze. LONDON, May 11.-Lord Salisbury s speech in the houae of lords this evening has caused a sensation in political and military circles. The attack upon General Lord Wolseley was wholly unexpected. The general opinion is that Lord Wolseley will resign after replying to the Premier. Liberals are inclined to sup port Lord Wolseley's position, which is ap- proved by all the military members of the House of Commons