Omaha daily bee., 1908-11-25
BRITAIN NEEDS BIGGER ARMY
House of Lords Acts After Sensational
Speech by Lord Roberts.
ISLAND IN DANGER OF INVASION
Rapid Growth of German Army and
Navy Makes Successful Land
ing of Large Force
Possible.

LONDON. Nov. 2l-Speaking In the House
Of Lords tonight. Field Marshal Lord
Roberts expressed the conviction that the
lack of military force sufficient to make
hopeless the attempt Of an invasion would,
in all probability, be the cause Of the loss
OF Great Britain's supremacy at sea. In a
studied speech, he pointed out the com
p~arative ease with which Germany could
land an army on the shores OF England.
Under present conditions England would
be forced, he said, to submit to most
humiliating demands.
He disclaimed all hostility to or fear Of
Germany; but he declared that the defense
of the islands required immediate attention.
There should be an army so strong in mum
bers and efficient in quality that the most
formidable of the foreign nations would
hesitate TO make a landing in England. He
had ascertained that vessels capable Of
accommodating 200,0N men always were
available in the northern ports of Germany,
and that as a result Of the new German
service law 100000 men could be collected
in the districts, Of the nearest port without
trouble. The great German steamship
lines were in constant practice. embarking
and disembsrking, and as the railroads
were owned by the state all preliminarles.
which to the actual dispatch Of troops,
could be carried out with the utmost Sc
crecy. Germany was perfectly aware. the
field marshal went on, that it would be
essential for its transports to evade the
British fleet. and it could easily distract
attention by small raids when disembark-
ing, proceeding undisturbed.
ut would be folly" declared Lord Rob
erts, ito shut our eyes to these possibilities
however much we desired. Startling events
in the near east have brought home to
the most careless observer that nothing
could save that country which is noA pre-
pared to protect itself. If Great Britain
continues to neglect the most ordinary pre-.
cautions it may some day find itself In
the hands of the invader. This danger is
daily becoming more threatening. Within
a decade Germany has created the greatest
sea power that ever existed, except Great
Britain. and at the present moment it is
formidable. Measures are being taken to
Increase that power. 1t is calculated that
there are $4,000 Germans in employment in
Great Britain. They are trained soldiers
and il a German force once landed on
these shores they would be ready to help"
Lord Roberts commended that it was not
absolutely essential for a nation to com
mand the sea in order to carry out an
invasion. \ temporary local command
would suffice and this was perfectly UNI
derstood in Germany. The main tempta-
ton to the invasion of Great Britain was
the want of a home army which ought to
consist of 1,OOO.OO men. Across the narrow
sea were 60,OOo,o 600 Germans who by perse-
verance, industry, sound education and
military training had made themselves a
great nation. They required outlets. for
their m and population.
1T was Great Britain's DESIRE" con-
tinued Lore Roberts. ito find out In what
way the great increase in Germany's sea
power was likely to affect 1t and to adopt
measures necessary for its defense. The
navy under present conditions was fet-
tered in home waters and without military
force sufficient to render any invasion nope
less"
Lord Roberts speech caused a sensation
in tht House. The earl Of Crewe remarked
on the seriousness Of such statements in the
present high strung condition of European
nerves, saying he feared they might be re
GREETED.
Lord Roberts resolution to the effect tina
the defense of the islands necessitated i'm.
mediate attention of the government t
make strong and efficient the army, tina
the most formidable nation will hesitat,
before making an attempted landing wa!
adopted by a vote of "A to 80.