The age-herald., 1900-02-16
NOW A MATTER OF
 LIFE AND DEATH
Roseberry Says Crisis in South
 Africa is Urgent
GREAT BRITAIN NEEDS AID
Germany and America in De- cember, But Were Not
 Cordially Received

London, February 15.-In the house of lords the Earl of Dunraven raised a. ques- tion on the ; scverlIil. 5..t rniiita.y proposals and expressed doubt as to whether these were sufficient.
 The Earl of Roseberry said he fully recog- nized the gravity of the situation and agreed with the previous speaker in think ing that the measures adopted were inade- quate in the circumstances. He also doubt ed whether the paper force of 1000 men in Great Britain," ito which the secretary of state for war had referred, will stand analysis For the volunteers, Lord Rose berry said he had the highest respect; but by no strength of the imagination could they be called soldiers, as 1t was admitted that they needed months of training annu- ally to render them efficient.
 ''The suspicious news of the morning from South Africa" said Lord Roseberry, lied to the hope that there might be better news to come, but when fighting on our own ter ritory we have been unable before to ad- vance an inch, and if another 5O,OOO men should be wanted for South Africa, do not know where they would be gotten It may be said that 1t is unwise to lay bare the weakness Of the country, but depend upon it, other nations know our position as well, if not better than ourselves.
 "I would like to ask whether the fleet is to be strengthened or mobilzed. It is not a time when we can leisurely discuss what we are going to do fortnight, or a month hence The crisis is urgent. The danger is upon you and at such time you come to this house. somewhat dilatory in tactics. but this inactivity must be remov0ed at once.
 The Crisis Urgent
 "The crisis in South Africa is urgent" continued Lord Rosebery "But we must net keep our eyes upon South Africa alone.
 Last December the government made urgent overtures to two great powers, Ger many and the esUnited States, for an alliance, but those overtures were not received with such ccrdiality as ito encourage the gov- ernment to pursue them. It does not ap- pear that the Friendship of France would bear any great strain and as to Russia events have been recently witnessed in Persia which creates uneaseness.
 ''It becomes the government to take large grasp of the situation and to make adequate proposals
 -- "Time is the essence of the situation. The government never realized, but the burghers have, and the present situation in South Africa has arisen from t'hds fact. Lord Blytheswood dhas referred to the armies of the northern states of the Amer ican union in tine civil war, and the vast forces raised there within a year. Some one might reply that fin the United States at that time it was matter of life and death. and I! would tell her majesty's gov ernment now that 1t is for us a matter of life and death.
 If Great sBritain were to lose South Africa She would lose the important base outside of the United Kingdom, and she wouuld lose that colonial support which has neen given because the colonies have believed ta1at they were assocdating them selves with a powerful empire, and thus the empire would break away from us. If this be not a life and death crisis, do not know what it ds."
 Government Defended
 The Earl of Kimberley, the liberal leader, said he felt the danger of the situation equally with Lord Rosebery. Although he would not ascribe direct hostile intention to Russia at the present moment, he said he could not overlook the fact that there was a movement of troops in progress which, If not menacing, showed that possi- Utilities of the future were not absent from the Russian mind.
 The Marouis of Salisbury. the premier, in the course of his reply for the govern ment saidt
 1T cannot enter upon the springs that guide the Russian government, or the course it is likely to take, nor can discuss the health of the Ameer of Afghanistan.