The sun., 1908-11-24
MILLION BRITISH SOLDIERS
NEEDED TO STOP GERMAN IN.
! iSION, SAYS EARL ROBERTS.
House Of Lords Backs Up the General by
Vote OF - 10 S2-Government Wor.
rIcd over Effects or Debate Abroad
Lord CrOmer's Warming Recalled.

TlfN VNtT FHtCtS Oh ueDhte ABROAD
Lord CrOmer's Warning Recalled.
special Cable Despatch 10 THE SUN
LONDON, Nov 23.-An important and
significant debate was initiated by Earl
Roberts. ex-Commander In Chief Of the
British forces, In the House OF Lords
to-day. The keynote Of the discussion
was the ease with which Germany might
invade Great Britain and the unreadiness
Of the latter country to resist invasion.
Earl Roberts's notice Of motion at
tracted the largest assembly Of peers that
has been present this session. and there
was an unusually large attendance in the
galleries. Several members of the Cabl-
net and a number Of members Of the House
Of Commons listened with keen attention.
Earl Roberts. upright and alert as usual,
made a motion to the effect that il was
Immediately necessary 10 provide in
addition to a powerful navy an army 30
strong In numbers and 30 efficient in
quality that the most formidable foreign
nation would hesitate to attempt an in
vasion of Great Britain. His grave
earnestness recalled that he has been
trying for two years to procure serious
consideration of this vital question, his
efforts seeming to be in vain.
Lord Roberts said he was deeply con-
cened that his warnings In regard to the
possibility of invasion were not needed,
The danger appeared to him and others
who had seriously studied the subject all
too obvious. He felt that terrible
awakening might be in store at no distant
period.
He secuted the contention OF. those
bent upon reducing expenditure that an
invasion was an impossiblity, a night
mare Of few alarmists. He and others
had undertaken careful researches. aud
the result of these proved that the ques-
zion of invasion was materially different
from what II was in 1905. when Mr.. Balfour
declared that Great Britain was immune
MIR Balfour's opinion had had a most
unfor tunate effect. 1t had blinded all
classes TO the existing danger
He set forth at length technical and.
other grounds for wholly disbelieving
that War Secretary Haldane's new terri
,orial army could be either large enough
or efficient enough to repel invasion.
There ought to be citizen army. he said.
Of 100000 instead of 200 900. No smaller
force could hope to meet successfully
10000 highly trained Continental soldiers
and fulfil the other duties which would
he concurrently demanded OF it in the
event of an invasion.
The want of such an army, Earl Roberts
said was an incentive to invasion. He
pointed out how easily in his view Ger
man invader could escape the alertest
efforts OF the British fest. and he added:
There is very serious chance that
German army might enter this country
as the result simply Of measures taken to
secure secrecy. and against this the
utmost strength and resources Of the
navy could give no protection whatever
The speaker dwelt in detail on Ger
many's facilities for concentrating and
despatching troops and the enterprise
and skill with which she had developed
within a decade the greatest sea power
in existence except that OF Great Britain.
a power which she was resolutely and
rapidly increasing. He did not blame
Germany. She should rather be praised
and her example followed, Her people
hy industry, perseverance, sound educa-
ton and universal military training had
become a great nation.
But the dangers which he apprehended
from the near neighborhood Of a power
fnI and clever nation impressed him with
the conviction that IL the British navy
we're double it's present strength q citizen
army Of a million trained men would be
essential to peace and security. and the
present territorial arrangement was hope
essly inadequate. In conclusion he said:
My feeling of conviction in this matter
Is strengthened by the grave events
which at this very moment cloud the
horizon Of eastern Europe with unoer-
tainty, and it is my absolute belief that
without military organization more ade-
quate to the certain perils Of the future
our empire will fall from us and our power
pass away
Lord Cromer. who a few months ago
startled public opinion by giving grave
warning Of the unsuspected proximity
ot a European war. cordially indorsed
Earl Roberts's views. but he deprecated
a suggestion that the Government be
pressed for definite statement concern
ing the invasion problem. He declared
that under various recent sharp electric
shocks the nerves OF Europe were rather
highly strung and a statement might
not act as a sedative.
Ex-War Secretary Middleton also con-
Cured with Earl Roberts.
The Earl Of Crewe. the Government
leader. said he thought Earl Roberts
had taken very serious step. He only
hoped no misunderstanding would arise
outside Of Great Britain as a result Of the
discussion.
The Marquis OF Lansdowne agreed
with Earl Roberts In many respects,
but he doubted that an army OF million
citizens would be any more effective
to resist highly trained foreign army
than the present recruits.
Earl Roberts's motion was carried
against the Government by a vote OF
q 10 80