In the House of Lords on Friday, July 27th, Lord
Wemyss again mentioned the opinion of the British Military Attach6 unnamed who had declared that it was all-important that the country "should be strong and unassailable in the month of November next," and asked the Prime Minister whether he was satisfied with the state of the national defences. Lord Salisbury refused to take the question seriously, and charac- teristically declared that the shooting stars were the only peculiarity which as far as he knew was to be apprehended in November. As far as he could tell, our defences were in a satisfactory state, but he protested against an increase in our means of defence being taken as a proof that they had been inadequate, as development was, of course, necessary. He did not believe in the possibility of invasion. He refused to declare that we had the best pattern of rifle or gun, as that was not his business but that of the experts. He had taken his part "by recommending an adequate and thoroughly trustworthy head of the War Office for the defence of the country."
Previous page
