The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1908-11-27
BRITAIN At MERCY
OF THE GERMANS
LORD ROBERTS STIRS PEERS BY
ALARMIsT SPEECH.
HE WANTS GREATER ARMY
Declares Kaiser Could Easily Land
Forces in England and Compel
Submission to Humiliating
Demands.

London, Nov. 24.-Speaking in the
house OF lords Monday night, Field
Marshal Lord Roberts expressed the
conviction that the lack of a military
force to make hopeless the attempt of
an invasion would. in all probability
be the cause of the loss of Great Bri-
tain's supremacy at 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 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 imme-
date attention. There should be an
army so strong in numbers and eff
cient in quality that the most formida-
BILE of foreign nations would hesitate
to make landing in England.
No Trouble for Germany.
He had ascertained, the speaker
continued, that vessels capable of &C.
commodating 100000 men always were
available in the northern ports of Ger
many, and that as a result of the new
German service law 100000 men could
be collected in the districts of the
nearest port without any trouble The
great German steamship lines were in
constant practice in embarking and
disembarking, and as the railroads
were owned by the state, all prelimi-
naries, up to the actual dispatch of
troops, could be carried out with the
utmost secrecy.
Germany was perfectly aware, the
field marshal went on, that it would be
essential for her transports to evade
the British fleet, and she could easily
distract attention by small raids while
the main Decentralization was proceed
ing undisturbed
Danger Increases Daily.
1T would be folly" declared Lord
Roberts, ito shut our eyes to these
possibilities, however much peace is
desired. The startling events in the
near east have brought home to the
most careless observer that nothing
could save that country which is not
prepared to protect itself. If Great
Britain continues to neglect the most
ordinary precautions she may some
day find herself in the hands of the in
vader and forced to submit to the
most humiliating conditions. This dan
ger is daily becoming more threaten
ing. Within a decade Germany has
created the greatest sea power that
ever existed, except Great Britain, and
at the present moment 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 SOL
diers and if German force once land
ed on these shores they would be
ready to help"
Speech Causes Sensation.
Lord Roberts speech caused a SEN
sation in the house. The earl of Crewe
remarked on the seriousness of such
statements in the present high-strung
condition of Europe's nerves, saying
he feared there might be regrettable
consequences.
Lord Roberts resolution to the eff
feet that the defense of the islands ne
cessitates the immediate attention of
the government to make provision for
such strong and efficient army that
the most formidable foreign nation
will hesitate before making an attempt
at landing was adopted by vote of
"a to 80.