The Irish standard., 1908-11-28
A WAR SCARE
Lord Roberts Sounds an Alarm in tho
housekof Peers.

eVS0 10 0VEuOo QV tNVQCVN III tV0
HouseSof Peers.
Lon!on, Nov. f2S.--speaking in the
house of lords tonight, Field Marshal
Lord Roberts EXPRESSED the convic-
ton that the lack of military force suf-
ficient to make hopeless the attemp:
of an invasion would, in all probability,
be the cause of the loss Of Great Brit
aims supremacy iat sea.
In a studied speech he pointed out
the comparative ease with which Ger
many could land an army on the shores
of England.
Under the present conditions Eng
land would be forced, he said, to sub
nit to meet humiliating demands.
Lord Roberts speech caused sen
sation in the house.
Fears the Consequences.
The Earl of Crewc remarked OH the
seriousness Of such statements in the
present high-strung condition of Eu
ropes nerves, saving he feared there
might be regrettahle consequences.
Lord Roberts resolution. to the ec.
feet that the defense of the islands ne
cessitates the immediate attention Of
the government to make provision fcl
such strong and efficient army tl.at
the most formidable foreign nation
will hesitate before making an at
tempt at landing was adopted by a
vote of "a to 90.
Preparedness Of Germany.
| In his speech to the upper house,
Lord Roberts disclaimed all hostility
: t., or fear Of Germany, but he declared
, that the defense Of the islands re-
quired immediate attention. There
should be an army SO strong in NUM-
bers and efficient in quality that the
most formj liable Of foreign nations
! would hesitate to make landing in
England
Warns Against Invader.
| Germany was perfectly aWare. tie
field marshal went on, that it would
be essential for her transports to
evade the British feet, and she could
easily distract attention by small raids
while the main Decentralization was
proceeding undisturbed.
ut would be folly" declared Lord
! Roberts. ito shut our eyes to these
possibilities, however much peace is
desired. The startling events in tie
Near East have brought home to the
most carelesss observer that nothing
could save that country which is not
prepared to protect itself.
! "1f Great Britain continues to neg
lect the most ordinary precautions,
she may some day find herself in the
hands of the invader and forced to
submit to the most humiliating condt-
tions. This danger is daily becoming
more threatening.
Germany's Navy Great.
within a decade Germany has ere
ated the greatest seat power that ever
existed, except Great Britain, and at
the present momente is formidable.
Measures are being taken to increase
that power. ,""
1T is calculated that there are 10000
Germans in employment in Great
Britain. They are trained soldiers and
If German force once landed on
these shores they would be ready to
help"
! Lord Roberts contended that It was
not absolutely essential for nation
to- commend the sea in order to carry
out an invasion. A temporary local
command would suffice and this was
perfectly understood in Germany. The
main temptation TO the invasion of
Great Britain was the want Of a horne
army. which ought to consist Of mil
lion men.
Tire For Precautions.
! Across the narrow sea were sixty
million Germans who, by perseverance,.
industry, sound education and military
training, had made themselves great
nation. They required outlets for theft
commerce and population.
| 1t was Great Britain's business. con-
tlnued Lord Roberts. TO find out IN
what way the great increase in Ger
many's sea power was likely to affect
her and to adopt measures necessary
for her own defense.
The navy under present conditi ,na
was fettered in home waters and with
out military force sufficient to render
an invasion hopeless. Great Britain'a
military weakness would in all prob
ability be the cause Of the loss Of her
naval supremacy.