Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1914-12-10
english Invasion
NOW A POSSIBILITY
BRITISH ACTIVELY PREPAR-
ING TO MEET SUCH A
CONTINGENCY.
Entrenching the Coast and Drill
ing the Home Guards for
Fighting.

Correspondence Of the Associated Press
I ONDON, Nov. 27.-Notwithstand-
IL ing the conclusions formed by
the imperial committee of defense
some years ago that an invasion Of
England would be an impossibility
while the British fleet remains in be-
ing, invasion by Germans is now con-
sidered a distinct possibility.
Both the government and the in
habitants Of the seacoast counties are
preparing actively to meet landing
Of hostile troops. The military prcpar-
ations have been conducted on a large
scale since the beginning of the war,
The home army, which is commanded
by Gen. Sir Ian Hamilton, who car
ries a broken wrist as souvenir of
the Boer war, has for its special func-
ton the repelling of an invasion. This
Amy consists mainly of territorials,
Cf which there are some 400, 900 now
under arms in the United Kingdom,
and part of the so-called Kitchener's $
army undoubtedly would be employed
in case of need as well as any Cana
might be in the country.
Can't Go Abroad.
The territorials were organized by
Lord Haldane when he was minister
of war and under the terms of 5heir
enlistment cannot be ordered abroad,
although many of the regiments have
volunteered for foreign service and
several are on the continent under
General French.
Military experts consider it wholly
possible that the Germans may make
a desperate excursion upon the Brit
ish coast even with the expectation
Cf losing a large proportion of their
men, for the moral effect the pres
ence of invaders would have in throw
ing the population into panic and pre-
venting the war office from sending
troops to reinforce the lighting line in
France.
Strike several Places.
II is thought the Germans might at
tempt to land two or three con-
tingents at widely separated bases for
the purpose of dividing the British
defense army and might send their
smaller expedition in advance of the
main one to create a diversion. The
home army has been operating with
view to being prepared to meet such
demonstrations. Several thousand la
borers have been employed digging
trenches and making other defensive
works on the strategic Tines between
the eastern and southern coasts. The
preparations of the railroad con-
trolled by a committee of railway
managers, who have military rank
during the war, have been made for
moving large bodies of men and guns
quickly. A practice mobilization was
conducted few days ago and rumors
Of an invasion Immediately became
current.
Organize Citizens.
What citizens may do to defend
their homes against an invader within
the recognized rules of warfare has
become a burning question within the
past few days. A meeting was held
In the Guild hall in London this week
to hear from Lord Desborough. well
known as the foremost amateur
sportsman of England. a statement OF
the purpose of the central association
of volunteers training corps for pro-
noting the military training in spare
time of men ineligible for service in
the regular forces. The lord mayor
the Duke of Norfolk. the Duke OF
Devonshire, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
n. q. Wells the author, several men,
bers of parliament and retired army
officers took part.
Lord Desborough said that the wal
office informed him that there was q
force of nearly million men giving
up their spare time to drill. Sir