The state herald., 1909-01-15

''Dreadnought" manned by illtrained
seamen is useless. for discipline.
which exists for the nation, is re-
quired to prevent the ship becoming 4
shambles and a disgrace on the day
OF battle. The best admiral is not only
ciplinarian. "Dreadnoughts." "Indom.
tables" and numbers do not alone
constitute efficiency. II is the man
not weapons or numbers, that is the
winning factor. How do the British
stand as regards discipline? The dis
cipline and the spirit of the British
navy are as good as. even better than,
they were in Nelson's day. Plenty OF
training and practice. smart handling.
good gunnery practice good man-o'
war training. willingness all round,
and captains knowing their admiral's
plans-these are the things that mean
efficiency. An efiicient small fleet will
always beat a half-trained large feet.
History shows that maritime battles
are decided not by quantity. but by
quality. How does the British fleet
compare with other nations In respect
TO those mental and moral factors
which are of even more Importance
for fighting purposes than the material
factor? The British navy is inspired
by stately traditions possessed by the
fleets OF no other nation. yet tradition
has not fossilized the British navy. Re
forms have taken place from within.
In less than seven years the accuracy
OF British gunnery has been trebled.
Al the last maneuvers In the North
sea not one OF the 132 pennants were
detached from the flag owing to n
breakdown. British fleets require no
pilots. Their navigating officers. un.
like those Of other nations. rely on
their own knowledge OF every coast
and harbor In the world.
Notwithstanding Its small size. the
British army contains more officers
with actual experience of war than
any nation In Europe. except Russia.
The regular army at home consists OF
il5.i01 competent troops. and 12s.984
army reserve. with 76.l55 regulars on
the Indian establishment. The Indian
army since Lord Kitchener's reforms
were carried into effect. is considered
by the highest authorities, foreign and
English. TO be the most efficient fight.
Ing force OF It's size In the world.
Nominally. the electives OF 1908
number 739.0i5. including the reserve
and the territorial forces: but the reg.
ulnrs alone receive continuous train.
Ing In peace.timc.
The new British territorial army re.
auired. II wanted Mt ali. TO meet picked
German troops receives no continu.
ops training. except few days In the
summer. Its war training begins only
after mobilization for war. The effect
OF the new system will be TO tie the
British regular army 10 the island
shores until the territorial arc suf.
ficicntly trained TO rcpcl raid or IN.
vasIon by picked foreign troops.
The situation today ls this: Human.
ly speaking. invasion In force In i'm.
possible: but II England presses Ger.
many. Germany attacks France.
France ana England are virtual allies.
and without infamy England cannot
hold aloof when France Ia attacked by
Germany.
n the British fleet destroys the Ger.
man fleet. the German army would bo
on French soil In n few hours. Tn.
French. ainglo.handed. cannot be OK.
pectcd To pull the German chca,nutH
out OF tho firo for England. but tho
British army today Is not in n posi-.
tion to discharge It's irrevocablc oblI.
cations either 10 France In Europe or
to Itself In Egypt. or In the Persian
gulf. The conclusion OF tho whole mat.
ter In choice between the orgnnlsn.
ton for the army for war and great.
iy Increased navy. or n generation NJ
inevitable struggle between the mas.
ter OF Europe and the British people.