The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1911-06-07
1915 IN ENGLAND.

In England there is a disposition to
look forward to 1915 as a critical year
for the empire. Various momentous
events are to occur in It. The exist
ing Anglo-Japanese alliance runs out,
the Panama canal will be completed,
the Kaiser Wilhelm canal will be wild
ened and deepened so that Ferman
dreadnought can pass between the
Baltic and the North Sea, without go
ing around Denmark, and Italy and
tAustria will both have squadrons of
dreadnoughts in the Mediterranean.
Many British politicians see in
these events sufficient menace to
British safety and British interests to
demand some signal British effort to
counterfeit them. Major Gastrell, M.
p, voiced the opinion of many when
in arecent speech he urged the policy
of an imperial loan ito secure our flu
ture naval strength" Lord Roberts
and the army group see an over
whelming necessity for great army,
with a possible mobilization of a mil
lion men for home defense in case Of
war. A favorite scheme of a political
nature, pure and simple, is the crea-
ton of an imperial House of Repre-
sentatives.
AS for the extension of the army, it
cannot be denied that there is a grow
ing belief in England of it's urgent
necessity. 1t is conceded that under
Secretary Of War Haldane a great for
ward step has been made. England
can now or in the near future put a
force of 100000 men in the field for
home defense. But this, like the
fleet, is of little or no use for 'aggres-
sion. So long as her expeditionary
force is only 100000 men or there
about her striking force is practically
nil in these days of vast armies.
Therefore, her value as an ally to a
Continental power, say to France, is
almost trifing.
The Government, which, being radi-
cal, is, of course, pacific, opposes OBJ
stinately two arguments against the
demand for great army. In the de-
bate in the Lords on Earl Roberts
motion, Haldane indicated national
bankruptcy as the result of such a
military establishment as the old field
marshal demanded. This plea, how
ever, is in no small degree discounted
by the recent Liberal boasts of their
successful financiering, including the
creation of a surplus of several mil
lion pounds sterling.
The other argument, the obnoxious
ness of CONSUMPTION to British feel
1ngs and principles, has a much more
vital appeal to the public. 1t is rather
strained, however, when a minister ar
CUES that such a measure, a measure
fer universal military training, would
make difficult the recruiting of the
10000 men or so needed for the In
dian and colonial garrisons. The
ready answer is that in every country
there are many thousands of soldiers
by instinct, and that universal service
for year or two will not materially
diminish the number of those who,
from need or love of adventure, will
voluntarily enlist for service beyond
THE seas.
However little the British public
may like compulsory service, there
can be no doubt that large number
OF persons are assimiliating the idea
or something closely agin to it as an
indispensable necessity. Many see in
it remedy for pauperism and check
to a certain degeneracy in English
manhood. VIII the year 1915 see the
genesis of a real British imperial
system, backed by the development of
an army that may completely restore
British prestige among the powers p
New York Sun.