Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1905-07-15
BRITISH ARMY
IS INADEQUATE
Lord Roberts Says 1t is Unable to
Uphold English Prestige.
ARE IMPERFECTLY TRAINED

London, July IL. - Field Marshal
Lord Roberts created a sensation in
the house of lords when, in a lengthy
and well-considered speech. he DELHI
erately expressed the opinion as a
practical soldier that the military force
Of Great Britain was inadequate. i'm
perfectly trained, and totally unfit to
uphold Great Britain as a first-class
power. Lord Roberts did not blame
the government, which, he said. was
actuated by a national feeling, but he
scathingly attacked the poole of Eng
land who. he said, showed no national
feeling towards the military until dan
ger arose. Then, said Lord Roberts,
the soldier was the pet of the people,
but this was only an evanescent enthu-
siasm. which did not entail self sacri-
fice, and passed away as soon as the
danger disappeared.
The speech was delivered in con-
nection with a motion introduced by
the Earl OF Wemyss and March (Con-
servative). traversing Premier Bal
four's statement regarding the impossi-
bility of the invasion OF Great Britain,
and urging the necessity of keeping up
sufficient land forces TO repel any pos
sible invasion.
Lort 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 as a
body were now as absolutely untitled
and unprepared for war as they were
when the South African trouble broke
out. He declared emphatically that
the choice lay between CONSUMPTION or
some practical system of universal
training. and that only by such means
would 1t be possible for Great Britain
TO possess armed forces organized and
trained to meet the demands of the
empire in the event OF war;
Lord Roberts. continuing. asserted
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 country had to deal
with a question of infinitely great i'm
portance-the question of the life or
death of the empire. the issue of which
depended upon Great Britain being
ready to defend her eastern posses
sions. and at the same time take part
ia any affair nearer home. either of
which necessitated the placing in the
field OF an army as large and efficient
as that of any of the European coun-
tries, all of which might be regarded
as nations in arms. Every other Euro
pean country regarded its army as
part of the nation. while England con-
sidered her army to be something quite
outside the national life, and no
thought was bestowed upon il by the
civil population except as part of a
political and partisan platform.
He appealed to the country to awake
to its danger. and to take hold of the
army as a great national issue, on
which the existence of Great Britain
depended. He said the whole empire
must rise to the occasion. and that ev.
cry one must personally bear a share
In the defense. or enable those to
whom responsibility was delegated to
become in AL respects efficient.
The government decided not to OPP
pose the motion of the Earl of Wemyss
and March. which was passed without
q division.