New-York tribune., 1903-11-28
DEFENCE OF WAR OFFICE.
Mr.. Balfour Speaks on Reforms
Reference to Russia.

rondo, Nov 1.-THE Premier Mr.. Balfour. pre-
siding at the annual dinner OF the United Service
Club tonight. delivered speech which was oe-
voted entirely TO the reforms Instituted by the
Usr oe7ca and which avoided the fiscal ques-
ton He SAID he hoped that the War Office ad-
yisory committee would quickly evolve satisfac-
tory result from its investigations
Mr.. Balfour defended the Secretary OF state for
War who he said had to face a more complex
problem than that before the War Minister
Of any other nation, account o. the vast scope
Of British territory. He blamed the Liberal preoe-
cessors Of the present government for their oelio-
crate policy of starving the army a pohcy which
had resulted in the difficulties experienced IN the
South African war, Notwithstanding the efforts OF
the present government. which did its utmost to
bring the army UP TO an efficient standard. He
contended that the army. as framed by the Union
ist government. operating through Lord Lansdowne
ana Lord wolseley had performed feat in South
Africa that no nation had ever attempted or had
ever carried out; but, he said. no enthusiastic
gratitude had been displayed to those who were re-
sponsible for .his result
II the army in the condition in which 1t had been
left by Lord Resebery's administration. said the
Premier, had to go through the South African cam
paign it would have met with illimitabe disasters
Mr.. Balfour said It was not his intention 10
apologize. because he did not CONSIDER that an
apology was necessary, but when he founu Oh
Henry Campbell -Bannermsn and Lord Roseoery
denouncing the present governments military
policy and thought of their own conduct OF liitaEy
affairs he felt his gorge rise. He tnought thaI
for very shame the members of the Rosebery gov
eminent would have preserved discreet silence
He did not wish TO minimize the magnitude or the
miscalculation which had been made In South
Africa but i. was a miscaleuiation of which the
whole British military profession was alike guilty
IL guilty the word. and it was not due to the
maladministration of the War Office.
In regard to the future. the Premier said he did
not believe that large army was required for
home defence 1ne great military problem was the
defence of the large Indian frontier against the
great, and. he glad to think, friendly. Empire
of Russia. For that reason he emphaucaHy re-
piled to those who wanted Lord Kitchener in Lon
don at the head of the army that the Himalayas
was where the general ought to be.
In conclusion. the Premier maintained that con-
scription never had been and never could be used
TO defend outlying possessions. In the ultimate re-
sort Great B~itun must depend upon the free VIII
of a free people. There needed an elastic or
sanization. able to utilize the enthusiasm OF the
whole empire He did believe that the empire
would shrink from the making Of necessary sacri-
hces or be inadequate for the greatest strain its
patriotism might endure if only all the component
parts of the empire could be harmoniously united
FOR some scheme Of defence. not dependent upon
the War Office alone. but dra wing its strength
from all the great self-governing colonies.