Show strengthening HIER HER DEFENSES ENGLAND is thoroughly aroused the necessity of prompt measures for strengthening her defenses is recognized in the cabinet and in parliament in the commons the government has asked for for the defense of australian colonies and for another and a much larger sum to be expended in the defenses of ports and coaling stations the government proposition is to spend at malta and gibraltar it is 18 of vital importance to england to maintain the strength reneth st of these two points gibraltar is the most import ant military post in the world as its guns guas sweep the entrance to the mediterranean from the atlantic there is not a nation in europe that would not give much and risk more to gain control of this great fortress malta tos is a naval and military base second mond only to gibraltar in importance it is an island lying not far from the middle of the mediterranean it has good harbor facilities and aad a fleet of wit war vessels a force of troops ana military stores large or small I 1 as 0 conditions in europe peaceful gr or otherwise may seem to require are always kept there b by great britain it I 1 Is s proposed to 1 furnish this is island land with wit h a strong garrison and its fleet with the best artillery a policy which would also involve the necessity of depositing there vast quantities of military stores gibraltar Is to be supplied with the best modern guns which will sweep we abe strait c kuman cled by the fortress even more effectively than to Is now done aque oy by the present artillery by malu maintaining gibraltar and malta england will be able to cope successfully Rully with any foe that may contest her her supremacy of the waters and coasts of the HeAl mediterranean terra the commons granted the money asked for by the government by more than a two twe thirds vote which is a significant niti ant indication of the extent to which the british lion is aroused in I 1 this connection it is interesting to note that russia Is ia preparing to occupy herat an important strategic point re lating to the frontier of india and that bulgaria has ordered a large quantity of cartridges and is about to order a supply of army shoes |