The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-17
SATURDAY. FEBRUARY Ii. 1900.
England,s Plight.

The speech OF the Earl OF Rosebery IN
the House OF Lords on Thursday, on the
subject OF imperial resources for war and
home defence was a most vivid exposition
OF Great Britain's weakness in directions
which. before the outbreak OF hostilities in
South Africa, Englishmen had not sus-
pected. even remotely. and foreign powers
had hardly more than half guessed at.
Perhaps IL Prince Bismarck we're alive to-
day the current exposures would not sur
prise him, for a dozen or fifteen years ago
he said that II was only the federation OF
Europe that kept England from falling
back to the condition of third-class
power. History makes and knowledge
spreads rapidly in these later times. and II
cannot be said that the Rosebery confess
sions add much to the sum Of what the
world already knew concerning the seri-
Gus inferioriiy of Great Britain's military
arm. In fact, the noble prophet Of evil
frankly said: 1T may be held unwise to
lay bare the weaknesses OF the country,
but. depend upon it, other nations know 1t
as well as, if not better than, ourselves
According to the Earl Of Rosebery If the
War Office needed fifty thousand troops. In
addition 10 those now in South Africa. it
would be hard to find them. Men could be
had but the supply of soldiers is ex-
hausted In this connection he emphasized
the futility Of depending for home defence
upon the four hundred and nine thousand
volunteers which looked so imposing on
the paper read from by the Secretary OF
State for War. II would. he said, take
months of training in each one of num-
Der of successive years to make this force
Of value for actual service.
England is not only badly OF in trained
defenders. organization, armament. and
leaders. but is politically isolated and men
aced with attack in many parts OF the
world. But for the French fear OF Ger
many. it is not wild assumption that the
general staff in Paris would be today
working out the problem of an invasion or
the island Russia is moving actively to
secure permanent advantages at her rivals
expense, which. were the British hands not
tied, she would never be permitted 10 OBJ
vain without fight Lord Rosebery de-
cIares that. realizing its friendlessness. the
British Government last December made
earnest efforts TO secure alliances with the
United States and the German Empire.
but that the overiures were not received
in a cordial spirit and the matter had to
be dropped.
Possibly. the latest news from South
Africa may improve conditions and afford
basis for higher hopes. Up to the pres
ent time, however. the British forces have
had the worst of il. through improper or
ganization. utter unpreparedness. poor
generaiship, and a general failure on the
part OF the directing minds OF the army
to learn anything from the war experience
Of the military powers. 1t is an interest
ing fact that from the time when, in 1888,
England met and defeated the Spanish
Armada. she had never singly conducted
war agains, Caucasian people until now,
with the single exception of the American
war OF Independence, IN which she was
whipped.
II the empire is to be held together. and
operations against its exposed TANKS, as
in India. me. by land forces. radical
change will have TO be wrought in the
scheme OF military service and in army
organization. Prestige on the sea will moi
protect Herat or the Khyber Pass. MOI
prevent the Russianizing of Persia and the
Persian Gulf. II is, indeed, question Of
life and death for the country, as Lord
Rosebery most justly declares.