The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-05-12
ENGLAND FEARS NO INVASION.
PREMIER DALFOUR DISCUSSES
MEANS or DEFENSE.

Men and Almost Imp6 ssibIe 20 Land
Theui-The Danger IN India Pointed out
Special C0bis Dtspdieh 70 TIE SuN.
LONDON. May lin the House Of Com
mons to-day Premier Bllfour, In a remarka-
bic speech with reference TO the work Of the
COMMITTEES on National Defense, discussed
the precautions that had been taken for tbs
defense Of tbs coasts and the possibilities
10 CASE Of invasion. he spoks with an opon-
ness seldom surpassed
He said that assuming that the British
army was absent upon an oversee expedition
and the organized fleets were away from
home, II was the opinion Of Lord Roberts
and other military advisers that II would
not be possible TO make an attempt 10 in
wade this country with less than 10000 men.
To attempt to take London, Lord Roberts
thought, would be a forlorn hope, even II
the 10000 men did reach London.
Now, with the feet absent andthe military
defensss In the state no had described
shores? In stating the problem In that way
they avoided all consequences raised by
what was called the -blue water school,
The latter assumed that there were no
land detenses. The dificulty OF invasion
QeDGnQtQ upon NLb lhluDtI VI lAlGu 70 10
landed. Ignoring the "blue water school,
and assuming that a small body Of soldiers
was here, an rnorganized body with some
knowledge Of arms, the enemy would re-
require 10000 men.
Since the old days Of Wellington and
Nelson there had been great scientific
changes, all Of them In favor Of the defense.
For instance, there we're steam and wireless
telegraphy. There were also torpedo boats
and submarines.
sNo British Admiral said Mr. Balfour.
would view with serenity the disembarlia-
ton from battleships and other ships Of
10 900 men on a coast infested by torpedo
boats and submarines. Let the committee
consider whether under the conditions
named IL would be possible to land 10 900
troops on this island. The invaders must
have transports.
Take friendly illustration Take
France. Before invasion there must bs
long and open preparation. On a par
ticular day last year there we're about
100 900 tons Of shipping in the Channel and
Atlantic French ports. That would be alt
solutey insufficient 70 carry 70 900 men.
The Admiralty held that $4,000 tons
would be required. Some thought that esti-
mate too high. In any case 10000 tons
would be required It was no simple mat
ter 70 collect transports to that extent. The
nearest harbor that France has is Cherbourg,
and it Is a very bad harbor.
Meanwhile, from the Farce Islands TO
Gibraltar we should be collecting our cruis-
ers, destroyers and submarines. When the
French feet arrived the Decentralization Of
TO- 1000 men, with our feet of tine coast be-
tween Dover and Portsmouth, would not
be very easy.
Nobody would put the time at less than
forty-eiRht hours-two days and two nights.
Il would also require fine weather. How
il il possible that these helpless transports
could possibly escape our torpedo boats,
putting out Of consideration anything our
cruisers and torpedoes could accomplish
The thing. Mr.. Balfour said, was i'm
possible. The enterprise was not one a
sans nation would take There was no
Admiral in the British feet who would
undertake a task like that. Not mersly
the transports but the ensmy's feet itself
would suffer. unless naval officers had
greatly overrated the efficiency Of torpedo
craft and submarines
Regarding India, the progress OF Russia
toward the Afghan frontier and the con-
struction OF strategic railways had com
PEELED the Government TO consider in all
seriousness what could be done by England's
great military neighbors in the East. No
surprise OF rush, however, was possible.
II England permitted the slow absorption
Of Afghanistan and allowed Russias strate-
gic railways to creep closer and closer 20
a frontier which she is bound 10 defend,
then this country would not only inevita-
bly, have TO pay for its supineness by
having to keep afoot an army far larger
than could be contemplated with equanim-
ity. but would sooner or later he faced with
some OF the greatest military problems
which had ever confronted the British Gov
eminent. Foresight and courage were the
great needs.
Mr.. Balfour, continuing, said that, as
10 colonial defense and having regard
TO the changes in the sea power OF other
nations, the redistribution Of the feet and
army was desirable. The committee con-
seauently proceeded on the broad line
that the British fleet and army should be
available for the defense OF the empire in
all parts Of the world, and should, as far az
possible, be concentrated at the center Of
the empire, from which IL could be dis
tributed as necessity arose. The COM
mittee had come 70 the conclusion that
Jamaica and Trinidad would be oenters
Of great naval operations.
Statue 20 Humbert Unveiled.
S,srfof Cabls Dssbafrh q, TIE SrN