New-York tribune., 1905-07-11
ROBERTS FIRES A SHELL.
CALLS THE ARMY UNFIT.
Field Marshal attacks Popular
Spirit-War,s Lessons Lost.

London. July 10.-Field Marshal Lord Rob
erts caused sensation in the House Of Lords
this evening when In a long and well consid-
cred speech he deliberately expressed his opin-
Ion as practical soldier that the military force
or Great Britain inadequate imperfectly
trained and totally unfit to uphold Great Brit
ain as a first class power. Lord Roberts did
not blame the government which. ,he said, was
actuated by national feeling, but he scathingly
attacked the people OF England. who, he said.
showed no national feeling toward the military
until danger arose. Then. said Lord Roberts,
the soldier was the pet Of the people; but this
was only evanescent enthusiasm. which did
not entail self-sacrihce. and passed away as
soon as the danger disappeared.
The speech was delivered in relation 10 mo-
tion introduced by the Earl Of Wenyss and
March, Conservative, traversing Premier Bal
four's statement regarding the imposgibiity Of
the invasion Of Great Britain and urging the
necessity Of keeping UP sufficient land forces
TO repel any possible invasion
Lord Roberts said the lessons OF the South
African war had been forgotten. He had no
hesitation in saying that the armed forces OF
Great Britain a body as absolutely
united and unprepared for war as they were
when the South African trouble broke out He
said enphaticaIly that the choice lay between
conscription and some practical system of gen.
eral training, and that only by such means
would it be possible for Great Britain to possess
armed forces organized and trained to meet the
demands of the empire in Of war
His lordshIp said that any discussion OF Great
Britain's military position within the limits Of
the motion proposed by the Earl OF wemyss and
March would be entirely unavailing. The
try had TO deal with q question Of infinitely
great importance-the question OF the life
death Of the empire. the issue OF which depended
upon Great Britain being ready 10 defend her
Eastern possessions. and at the same time take
Part in any affair nearer home. Either OF these
contingencies made necessary the placing in the
field OF an army as large and efficient as that OF
any of the European countries all of which
might be regarded as nations in arms. Every
other European country regarded its army as
part Of the nation, while England considered
her army TO be something quite outside the ma
tional life and no thought was bestowed on II
by the civil population except part Of
political and partisan platform.
Lord Roberts appealed to the country to
awake to its danger and to take hold OF the
army great national issue on which the
existence OF Great Britain depended He said
the whole empire must rise to the occasion. and
that every one must personally bear a share IN
the defence. enable those to whom RESPONSE
bility was delegated TO become In all respects
efficient.
The discussion of the motion continued for
some time. the speakers complimenttng Lord
Roberts for the stand he had taken.
Lord Lensdowne, the Foreign Minister, de-
Tended Premier Balfour He said that Mr.. Bal
four had never maintained that the defence Of
the country depended solely the navy. The
committee on defence had taken every possible
phase into consideration and would he hoped,
be able to work out the problem to the satis-
faction OF every
The government decided not to oppose the
motion Of the Earl of Wemyss and March,
which was passed without division.