Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-13
THE INVASION OF ENGLAND.

defense, wnlcn. at -FOUR 10 one 10 .heet
10000 invaders. should amount at least
to Coz, 900 men,
And Lord Roberts added: The more
reflect on it. the more 1t seems to me
that there lies in front of us one of the
strangest spectacles that has ever been
witnessed i'm the world. Across the mar
row sea. opposite our shores. within a
few hours steaming, there is a people
numbering over sixty millions. our most
active rivals in commerce and the greatest
military power in the world.
It was vital necessity. continued the
speaker, that England should have in the
future not only the strong
Vital est and most powerful
navy, but complete stra-
Neeu. teg.c freedom for that navy.
The navy at present is confined to home
waters as it never was before. and with
out a military force sufficient OF itself to
make invasion hopeless and to maintain
the safety Of England beyond all fear.
The speaker declared that England s
weakness, if continued. would probably
cause the loss of her naval supremacy.
Lord Roberts concluded by saying that
his feelings and convictions on the matter
were strengthened by the grave events
which cloud at this very moment the
horizon of the east OF Europe with uncer-
tainty 1t was his absolute conviction mat
without a military organization more aue
quate to the certain perils or the future
the British empire would 1al ana i's
power fade away forever i;
Lords Cromer and Middleton Favored
the resolution, but objected That the oe-
mand for a statement from the govern
ment at such a moment was 1hoppo. ,uIio'
when Europe was in nervous cOnditloh.
JTpon these representations Lord ROBERTS
consented to withdraw the demand LOT
governmental declaration, ana MS moIio"
was adopted by "A to 81
The London Times In It's editor,ai COIL T.
mentinr unon the withdrawal said: 1T Is
a rather serious proposition that the gov
eminent should not be asked 10 tell the
nation the truth.
The Telegraph approves Lord Ropert ;!
motion as it was voted. Lord nooes o or1
not attack Mr.. Haldane's proposed or
ganization. but proved that the 1orco was
insufficient.
The Cologne Gazette has long leader
on the speech, and attempts to disproVe
Lord Roberts by Won
carman Moltkes theory OF the
impossibility of invasion
comment. against strong fleet. Inc
Berliner Tageblatt regrets the demonstra-
tions in the house of lords and declares
that British chauvinism will encourage
German chauyins and furnish arguments
to partisans Of increased armament.
The Vorwaertz declares that tho vote
is a symptom to be noted because IL re-
fleets the sentiments OF the coming con-
sentative British cabinet.
The Gazette de Voss says that the dis
course of Lord Roberts interprets the
views of King Edward. who declared at
carlsbad to the French and RusSlan
ministers that he would institute an
army capable of meeting all compHca-
lions on the European continent. Inc
king during the summer had had seVeral
interviews with Mr.. AsQulth, VINO was
opposed France had caused King Eo-
ward to understand that he could not
transform the entente into an alllance
with England unless England decided 10
place at her disposition on the continent.
when necessary, an army organized a1ler
European conceptions.
The Neue Freie Presse Of Vienna says
surprise by an invading army woule
be difficult, but not impossible Inc
British home fleet would hardly be aDie
to withstand the German warshlps es-
corting the transports at first, but would
probably permit a landing and attack
the German fleet when a superior British
naval force had been collected. Mean
while 100000 Germans might lana ana
march to London. The German army
deprived Of communication with its base
by the probable victory Of the concen-
trated British fleets would be like lamp
without oil. A simple method would be
for Germany to open war unexpectedly
by annihilating the British home fleet
during maneuvers.
LIE Temps says: What singular per-
reality! In order that
French England may be sure of
her tomorrow, that she
nepAAes' may be in European or
der susceptible IF alliance 1T is neces-
sary for her to recall that her army
compared to other armies in Europe was
better a century ago than now; in the
face Of conscript armies. the English
forces are derisory, and finally Owe
wrote it six months ago.. it was not at
Trafalgar, but at Waterloo, that Napo-
leon succumbed."
The Debats says that although the
government minority voted against Lord
Roberts motion, there can be no doubt
that it was heart and soul with the ma
jority 1t is being more and more felt
In England that the old system Is dead.
The Canadian liberal press Is much OPP
posed to Lord Roberts. The Ottawa
Free Press says, for example: I'VE cam
not imagine a man of the capacity
and reputation of Lord Roberts lightly
making so startling a statement when
the relations between the British and
German people are so unfortunately.
and we believe unwarrantedly. strained.
Lord Roberts has provided the world
with the greatest sensation it has had
for many years. He is either in his
dotage and his babbling is irrepressible,
or else there exists a most alarming cause
for widespread unrest"
Such reflections have found echo in our
own press. They indicate how general in
the human mind is rooted that excessive
optimism which Voltaire has ridiculed SO
we'll in DR.. PansloSs, for whom Every
thing was for the best, In the best of
worlds possible" Nations, as well as in
born of pride and vainglory and the
holier- than-thou spirit.
1t is singular to read that Lord Roberts
is no longer sane or serious because he
would warn his country of danger
which other soldiers and statesmen deem
imminent.
We may RECALL the fact that it was the
French military attache at Berlin, aware
of the total unpreparedness Of France for
war in 1870. who foreshadowed the fatal
consequences In the form Of an urgent
paid. Lord Roberts would warn his country
of the danger of an invasion, a sub
ject which he knows has been made a
thesis by the German general staff. The
field marshals speech. therefore, on the
invasion Of England is the simple appli-
cation of a rudimentary principle of ma
tional defense.