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Show AN UGLY TRUTH. Another English general has joined Lord Roberts in warning the English of the danger they are exposed to from inadequate military preparation for a possible war with a first-class European power. Field Marshal Sir Evelyn Wood virtually repeats what Lord Roberts has frequently insisted uponfi namely, that England is doomed to disaster if she does not awaken in time to the realization of the fact that her presen military system is the veriest sham, which should give place to universal and compulsary military service.' The latter is far from being popular in England. Hence the need for directing public attention to its vital necessity. Field Marshal Wood did this the other day in a speech delivered de-livered at the opening of a new rifle range. Here is what he told his audience audi-ence of the prospect before them: "It any of you live to see our country invaded in-vaded and, humanly speaking, unless un-less the whole made population is trained to arms, I believe some of you certainly will see that result it is well that you should realize what would happen right here when, say, ten thousand men of an enemy's army-reach army-reach Newbury." He then went on to tell of what occurred durii'? the Franco-German war in a small village in Alsace. He i described the attempts of a father to hide a few loaves of bread, the only thing between his family and starvation, starva-tion, from a foraging party. The vain pleadings of the agonized parent fell upon deaf ears. The army had to be fed, no matter how many non-combatants old men, women and children had to die from sheer starvation. Field Marshal Wood reminded his hearers that such scenes as this might be repeated re-peated in the not distant future in their own land if England's present military system does not undergo a speedy and radical change. It is bringing home to John Bull a disagreeable-truth he would like very much to ignore. |
