The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-12-01
Min ces No Words in
Discussing Military
Situation.
WARNS ENGLAND
OF ITS DA N GER
Fervid Campaign Is Being
Waged for Universal Service,
and Outburst of Criticism Il
Such as Would Not Have
Been Considered Possible
Few Weeks Ago.

Especial Cable to The Times Dispatch.)
|. London. November 30.-It was only
recently that attention was called to
the propagandist work in this country.
with a view OF influencing public
opinion In favor of compulsory mill
tary service. What was then stated
in these dispatches was naturally
somewhat more outspoken than what
had appeared from time to time in the
English press. but the movement in
the interval has been developing SO
rapidly that it calls for comment
again
Inc European crisis had very OBJ
vious effect In the House or Commons
During the past ten days the mill
listers have been bombarded with ques-
tions. The state of the British forces.
naval and military, the total strength
of the navy, the condition OF individual
ships, the efficiency of the aeiiai
fleet. in comparison with those or other
powers. and the serious condition OF
the horse supply-all these have been
subjects of inquiry. Everything points
to feelings of deep dissatisfaction ahU
uneasiness on these points.
1t takes courage to preach the doc
trine of universal service in this coun-
try" said the Pail Mall Gazette In an
editorial on Thursday. and then 1t pro-
ceeded to speak of "the awful scenes
attendant upon the fight of broken
army. as witnessed at Kirk-kilissen
and Lula Burgas," as giving an an
swer to the shirkers who conceal their
dereliction of duty by frothy praises
OF the national spirit that nils the
ranks of the volunteers instead OF the
conscript" The same morning three
great London papers devoted iong eoi-
torials in criticism of the British ter
ritorial army, which is somewhat SIM
liar to the American militia
naners were the Times. the Morning
post and the Daily Mail. The text OF
all the editorials might have been the
PAIL Mall Gazette's, saying that praise
Of the territorials Is as the garland
which bedecks the sacritcial OK
Roberts the Stalking Horse.
init. ,arLanIe outburst of criticism
On the press the House or Comuone
and at meetings in many places our .ns
the last two weeks. was esloen'iS -
result of an organized, ieTVlH is
naien. Field Marshal Lord RopettS -
again being used as Wiling staIkIHS
horse. The veteran was pat up again
on Wednesday night at big oahGue'
OF the kent Territorlals. ne1o N 80
that the territorial force is ialIure
in discipline, a failure In NUMBERS
failure in equipment and a tal-re "a
enersy. In an aac Sarn nesn, s taking back
nothing. dotting is and crossing u "
everything he had said. He caileo upon
the officers to make the cover
and the nation clearly unoerstano 90
ont their duties and unless they were
given trained assistano' to the man
hood of the country. they coulo never
guarantee the safety OF ,r tne tnoh h
source. said Lord Roberts. would
arouse the country TO call upon gre
~overnment to enact a law imposing
on all citizens OF military age ene ou'S
of defending the country
TIE speech shas been eagerly. seized
,,non and the remarkahle trio OF edito-
rials on Thur day was only one IND ca
fior, of tie serious determination or the
army retormers. The *weignty Times
again riddles the territorial forces Win
fsgures and statistics which have OF
Ines been quoted. II laments the fact
that though they are increasing IN
numbers, the people are dai4y moIe
convinced that the only true sotutlon
pulsion-" No one. It says. has as yet
been able to secure acceptance OF I
def scheme Of reform Inc Iimes
concludes by declaring the question
will have 10 De ans cfCNs oAie
Is no room for delay.
The conservative Morning Post de-
ciares that the country is only await |
ing a lead from statesmen IL ados.
III the politicians continue 10 snow
apathy il will be the duty OF sli pa
triotic men and women so to Work as
To bring home to the people the great
and pressing danger IN which we stand |
IT may not be long before the |
politicians are tumbiing over each other |
70 advocate national service. because
-bev may see indications that the peo- |
ME are going to be convinced of iEs !
necesSity The pity is that those I
who criticize Lord Roberts and despise
his warnings may only find out their
mistake when the danger Is on US.
Daily Mali Outsroken-
The popular Daily Mail IS the most
o.1tspoieu Of all IL declares that every
oolftician in his heart knows that Lord
Roberts speaks the truth 1t goes on
TO saw. The real question is not
whether we are 20 have universal ser
vice. for come 10 must. but whether ;
we are TO accept Secretary OF war
Seeivs policy. and wait for disaster
before introducing IT, meantime con-
tenftne ourselves with . weapon which
is almost as futile AZ Chinese can
non Of painted wood
II IS not long aSo-on1y few weeks.
in f1ct-whcn no paper would have
ventured on such plain s2eaklns. Inc
fscfs were realized. but the truth was
feared. seldom has a diffic1It cause
mad such progress In the space OF
three weeks as has been made In Eng
land By Lord Roberts, pleas for ma
rsoraI service.